Chile’s Felipe Aguilar returned to form with a four under par 68 at the Open de España to claim the clubhouse lead midway through the first day.
Three top-ten finishes at the start of 2013 hinted that the 38 year old might be about to end his five-year wait for a second European Tour title, but he then failed to make the cut or break 70 in his next three events.
However, Aguilar was back to his best with six birdies and two bogeys at Parador de El Saler as he set the target score for the afternoon starters.
"This course is playing very nicely - especially in the morning with very little wind,” said Aguilar. “The conditions are absolutely fantastic. It's a very difficult golf course if you miss the fairways off the tee; as long as you keep it on the fairway off the tee you get pretty good chances. The greens are rolling really nicely.
“Four under is a good score anywhere, so I'm quite happy with it.
“I took a couple of weeks off which was good for me. I realised that I needed some time off to relax and get my putts together and forget about bogeys and double bogeys.
“I still enjoy playing this game, that's why I'm here, and as long as I keep doing that hopefully the scores will come around.
“I played really good at the start of the season in the desert, so my card is pretty much secure. Now I'm playing for The Race to Dubai and to get up in my World Ranking points.
“Usually the wind picks up in the afternoon, so being in the top spots during the morning is pretty good. Tomorrow afternoon wil be a decision day and it's going to be a little windier, so we'll se how it goes."
Four players were only one back in the clubhouse; Scot Craig Lee, Swee Joakim Lagergren, Ireland’s David Higgins and Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen all signing for rounds of 69.
French Challenge Tour graduate Gary Stal was also on three under with four holes of his round remaining.
Race to Dubai leader Sergio Garcia, fresh from a top-ten finish at the Masters Tournament, threatened to challenge for the lead when he holed a ten foot putt at the third to reach two under, but double-bogeyed the next as he signed for a level par 72.
Miguel Angel Jiménez was among the afternoon starters on his first appearance since breaking his leg in a December skiing accident, as was Ryder Cup Captain José María Olazábal.
Stal picked up a fourth birdie of the day at the 15th, and with three closing pars the 21 year old took a share of the lead.
The home challenge gathered momentum in the afternoon as Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño, whose tied 20th at Augusta National last week was his best finish in a Major, raced to three under through seven holes.
That put him on the same mark as compatriot Adrian Otaegui and England’s Andrew Marshall as the trio looked to surpass Aguilar and Stal.
