Scotland’s Chris Doak and Norway’s Eirik Tage Johansen set the early pace at the Open de España at PGA Golf Catalunya.
Both players reached three under par through the first ten holes in Girona, with home favourite José Manuel Lara joining them on three under after seven holes.
Lara birdied three holes in a row from the 11th – his second – to join 31 year old Doak and Qualifying School graduate Johansen.
Doak also secured a hat trick of birdies, his run coming from the 14th and two more birdies coupled with two bogeys gave The European Tour rookie a good start.
Johansen birdied the first and completed a flawless front nine with further birdies at the seventh and eighth.
No fewer than 13 players were closing in on the early leaders at two under par, while colourful American John Daly reached the turn in level par in his first round of competitive golf since undergoing lap-band surgery.
