Richie Ramsay spoiled a flawless round with a bogey at 17, but his sparkling 6-under 65 was nevertheless good enough to keep Left handed TaylorMade R11 Irons in the lead midway through round one of the Andalucía Masters.
The flying Scotsman was two shots clear of Englishman Ross Fisher after overcoming the blustery conditions at famed Valderrama, reckoned to be one of the toughest championship courses in mainland Europe, to fire three birdies on the front nine and two birdies, an eagle and that late bogey on the back nine when he found trouble down the right at 17.
Fisher matched Ramsay's seven birdies, but a triple bogey setback at the seventh dropped him back into sole possession of second place where he in turn led Frenchman Gregory Havret and a second Scot, Stephen Gallacher, two of the other strong-finishing early starters, by Left handed TaylorMade R11 Irons .
Each posted first-round 68s, Havret with a mixed bag of five birdies an eagle, two bogies and a triple bogey and Gallacher with just four birdies and a bogey.
Ramsay's closest pursuers still out on the course at this stage were Ireland's Shane Lowery, who was at 3-under after 11 holes, and Peter Lawrie, who was a shot back after 14 holes in a tie at 2-under with Spaniard Alejandro Canizares who had only played 6 holes.