Liam Nolan and Mark Power both shot three-under rounds of 68 but lie outside the top 30 after a day of low scoring in the opening round of the HotelPlanner Tour’s Open de Portugal at PGA Aroeira.
Nolan, fresh off making the cut at last week’s Amgen Irish Open at Doonbeg, was among the early starters and made six birdies – including one on the 18th – and three bogeys during his round.
Power was the lone Irishman in the afternoon and birdied two of his opening five before a run that saw him card four birdies and a double bogey in a five-hole stretch either side of the turn.
Two further bogeys on 14 and 16 threatened to spoil a solid opening effort, but he too birdied the last to join Nolan on -3 and in a share of 34th.
Gary Hurley and Max Kennedy are one shot behind the duo at -2, while Conor Purcell struggled to a four-over 75 and needs to go low on day two to see weekend action.
At the top of the leaderboard, Jannik de Bruyn fired an opening nine-under 62 to take sole possession of the lead.
De Bruyn made eight birdies and an eagle with just one blemish on the card putting him a stroke clear of Swede Adam Wallin.
The German was pleased with his ability to keep the ball in good positions throughout the opening round in Lisbon.
“I didn’t find any trouble out there which made it a very easy going round,” he said.
“I had plenty of very good wedges which makes it easy to make birdies, and I also holed one which makes life even easier. I’m very pleased with the start of the tournament.”
The 27-year-old opened his account with a birdie on the 10th, before his standout moment came at the 12th hole when he holed a wedge from the fairway for an eagle two, getting him to three-under in as many holes.
De Bruyn made three more twos throughout his round, with his wedge play proving pivotal on day one.
“I had 108 metres and hit a smooth gap wedge that spun back into the hole which was very pleasant because it was my third hole so it got the round going, and then I hit a few more wedges close,” he added.
“I think that was the strongest part of my game and as I said makes life easier.”
Playing in the afternoon wave, De Bruyn faced slightly tougher conditions than the morning presented, with the wind picking up as the day progressed.
But the German was unphased, on a course that he said suited his eye.
“I grew up on a treeline course which is why I very much like these kind of courses, especially over here in Portugal and Spain.
“The conditions didn’t affect me at all. Hole nine was pretty tough into the wind, but the rest was pretty playable, the greens were quite soft so you could really attack the pins.
“I feel it’s like a typical golf course and I really enjoy spending time here so that’s why I probably felt a bit more comfortable today. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
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