South African Jaco Van Zyl claimed the clubhouse lead midway through the first round of the Trophée Hassan II in Morocco.
Van Zyl was four under, having carded a 68 on the Golf Du Palais Royal course - the players are split over two courses for the first two rounds.
"It feels very nice (to be clubhouse leader)," said the Qualifying School graduate. "I didn't get off to a great start to the year so I'm just trying to take baby steps one at a time.
"I always seem to catch a bit of a slump this time of year and peak in June and July so I've been trying to sort that out this year and at least ensure the slump's not so bad. My short game in particular I've been focusing on quite a bit."
Michael Campbell, the 2005 US Open Champion who has since suffered a string of injury problems and slipped to 827th in the Official World Golf Ranking, showed signs of a return to form with a three under par round to sit one off the pace.
The New Zealander, who made only one cut last season and has only featured at the weekend this year at the Sicilian Open, shot 69 on the Palais Royal layout to share second with Scot Peter Whiteford.
"I can take a lot of confidence from this score," said Campbell. "It's been a real struggle for me the last couple of years, struggling with injuries and what-not, so to finally get a good score under my belt is good.
"This game is all about confidence and once you get a couple of good rounds under your belt the game gets a little easier.
"We are staying in a really nice hotel, the Sofitel, and it's all about relaxing away from the course and getting away from it when you're not playing."
England's Richard Bland was also three under after a promising start, posting three birdies in his first six holes.
Van Zyl was joined out in front by Indian Shiv Kapur and Ireland’s Peter Lawrie from the afternoon wave.
Kapur, playing Palais Royal, mixed four birdies, two bogeys and an eagle over his first ten holes.
Lawrie, also starting on the tenth at Palais Royal, opened with an eagle and consecutive birdies at the 16th and 17th helped him to an outward 32.
Whiteford and Campbell were in a tie for fourth with Sicilian Open winner Raphaël Jacquelin, while out on the course Bland, defending champion Rhys Davies, Chile’s Mark Tullo and English pair John Bickerton and James Morrison were all three under as well.
