GOLF: Holland's Robert-Jan Derksen, still on a high after his shock win in the Dubai Desert Classic, moved quickly into contention for back-to-back victories in the weather-disrupted Madeira Island Open yesterday.

Two weeks after holding off defending champion and world number two Ernie Els in Dubai, Derksen carded an opening five-under-par 67 at Santo da Serra to lie one shot off the lead.

Spain's Jesus Maria Arruti set the clubhouse target with a six-under-par 66, but half the 144-man field were unable to complete their rounds following a three-and-a-half hour delay due to morning thunderstorms.

Of the Irish who were able to finish their rounds, Gary Murphy and Damien McGrane were on level par, while Philip Walton double-bogeyed his 16th to finish on two over.

But that was nothing compared to the plight of Gary Cullen and Peter Lawrie, who handed in seven-over-par 79s. Stephen Browne was forced to begin his first round this morning.

Derksen was among the early starters, but arrived at the course to discover only four minutes play had been possible before a sudden storm brought play to a halt. Another violent storm and torrential rain left parts of the course under water, and it was not until 11.15 a.m. that play was able to resume.

All that waiting around did not appear to have done the Dutchman any harm, however, as he holed from 30 feet for an eagle on the par five 11th, his second hole, and added four more birdies and just one bogey.

"I did not have any expectations at all but it's nice to continue the form from Dubai," said Derksen, who pulled out of last week's event in Qatar admitting his mind would not have been on the task at hand.

"There is no pressure, which helps, but you have to be careful. If there is no pressure you can struggle, some pressure is good.

"A lot of people asked me why I didn't take another week off but I like the course and I was eager to play. I also learnt from Rolf Muntz (his fellow Dutchman). He won in Qatar and took six or seven weeks off, but that doesn't work for me. I have to play continuous golf.

"It was not easy today with the wind but I played very well. I was very consistent and only hit two bad tee-shots."

Arruti was on the first tee when the first clap of thunder and fork of lightning caught tour officials by surprise, but returned 210 minutes later to card eight birdies and two bogeys in his 66.

The 34-year-old has made 14 consecutive visits to the European Tour qualifying school - winning his card three times - and has never recorded a top-10 finish on the main tour.

"I hope last year was the last time I have to go to the school," Arruti said. "I think I can do good things. I have confidence in my game.

"I've played on the tour twice before, but I'll definitely be better prepared this time around and ready to go."

Arruti certainly has a good golfing pedigree. He learnt the game from his father, a teaching professional, at the age of six, and his uncle (his father's twin) is also a professional whose two daughters, Amaia and Marina, play on the Women's European Tour.

He can also call on the advice of double Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal when they play together at their local club in San Sebastian.

"I normally see him in January and February when he is at home and we play two or three times a week," Arruti added.

"I don't see him as often now as he is in America but we keep in touch by phone."

Switzerland's Julien Clement and France's Julien van Hauwe shared third place on four under par.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES (Brit unless stated, Irish in bold): 66 - JM Arruti (Spa) 67 - R-J Derksen (Ned) 68 - J Van Hauwe (Fra), J Clement (Swi) 70 - M Siem (Ger) 71 - S Webster, F Orest (Swe), M Cort, E Rush, MA Martin (Spa), S Luna (Spa), J Sandelin (Swe) 72 - A Salto (Spa), G Murphy, D McGrane, J-F Lucquin (Fra), P Mitchell, I Goroneskoul (Fra) 73 - J Hepworth, B Barham, G Emerson, F Andersson (Swe), N Colsaerts (Bel), S Cage 74 - B Hume, B Davis, M Eliasson (Swe), P Walton, A Coltart, I Giner (Spa) 75 - E De La Riva (Spa), M Urquhart, L Parsons (Aus) 76 - J Bickerton, R McEvoy. Other Irish: 79 - G Cullen, P Lawrie.