Madeira, Portugal – Alvaro Velasco fired an eight-under 64 on Thursday to take the lead after the first round of the Madeira Islands Open.
Velasco carded nine birdies and a bogey at Santo da Serra Golf Club, and holds a two-stroke advantage over six players. Tommy Fleetwood, Morten Orum Madsen, Magnus A. Carlsson, Joakim Lagergren, Oliver Wilson and Ben Parker share second place after all shooting 66.
Velasco won twice on the Challenge Tour in 2010, but has never earned a European Tour title. The Spaniard has actually had trouble getting to the weekend recently, missing the cut in 17 of his last 21 starts dating back to last season. However, he did finish in a tie for ninth at the Sicilian Open a little more than a month ago.
While Velasco holds a two-shot cushion in first, the leaderboard is very crowded below him. After the logjam in second is a six-way tie for third -- Matthew Baldwin, HP Bacher, Charlie Ford, Colm Moriarty, Andreas Harto and Warren Abery sit at minus-five.
Velasco, who will turn 31 years old next Tuesday, got off to a good start, with birdies at one and three. He stumbled to a bogey at the par-three fourth, but birdied seven and nine to make the turn at three-under.
He carried that momentum to the back nine, where he caught fire. Three consecutive birdies from the 10th hole pushed his score to six-under, and he rolled in two more -- at 14 and 16.
"I had a good week in Sicily, where I was ninth, but I can't remember the last time I made such a good start to a tournament," Velasco said. "My putter has been working well lately and I'm feeling confident."
Fleetwood, a European Tour rookie, Carlsson and Madsen all drained seven birdies and had one bogey, while Wilson turned in a bogey-free round.
Lagergren began at the 10th tee and was sitting at one-over following consecutive bogeys from the 12th. But he ended his back nine with five birdies in a row, then made two on the front nine to climb into a share of second.
Parker used a strong four-hole stretch to jump up the leaderboard. He made birdies at eight and nine to turn at minus-two, then made an eagle at the 11th. He jumped into second thanks to birdies at 16 and 17.
NOTES: Velasco finished fifth at the Madeira Islands Open in 2008, the last time the tournament was held at Santo da Serra...Michael Hoey won this event last year, but did not return to defend his title.
