Spain's Adrian Otaegui claimed the lead after the first round of the Lyoness Open as the in-form Chris Wood suffered a disappointing start to the defence of his title in Austria.
Otaegui carded eight birdies in a flawless 64 at Diamond Country Club to equal the course record set in 2014 by American Daniel Im, one of the players with whom he finished joint first in the European Tour qualifying school last November.
At eight under par the 23-year-old, a protege of double Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, held a two-shot lead over Sweden’s Bjorn Akesson, with France’s Gary Stal and South African Zander Lombard a shot further back on five under.
Ireland's Paul Dunne hit a disappointing 76, a double bogey on the 10th as well as two earlier bogeys on the front nine leaving him with plenty to do on Friday. Also on four over for his first round is Peter Lawrie, while Michael Hoey hit birdies on the sixth, 11th and 16th to finish level par.
Wood, who came into the event on the back of his victory in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth a fortnight ago, started his round on the back nine and reached three under thanks to birdies on the 12th, 15th and second.
The world number 23 immediately bounced back from a bogey on the fifth with another birdie on the next, only to find water off the tee on the eighth and ninth and bogey both holes in a 71.
“Not quite the start I was hoping for but it was tricky,” Wood said. “It was quite windy and chilly first thing and there’s trouble round this course that’s not too far off line, two or three yards off the greens and some hazards just off the fairways and I managed to find a couple of them towards the end.
“It’s disappointing. Coming here as defending champion you want to put up a decent score on the first day to get yourself in contention.”
Wood will fly straight from Austria to Pittsburgh for next week’s US Open, but insisted he never thought of changing his schedule to prepare for an Oakmont course he has been told is “brutal”.
“I always think if you win an event you should try and get back to defend,” Wood added on Sky Sports. “Winning the BMW PGA Championship should not really change that at all.
“A few guys have said that to me how great it is to see me this week, which is nice and just proves I have made the right decision.”
Otaegui, who has yet to record a top-10 finish this season, told European Tour Radio: “Of course I’m very pleased. I played well from the beginning until the end, didn’t make too many mistakes. I missed a couple of greens but then I made good up and downs.
“The course is pretty hard and it’s not easy to get the ball close to the pin so I’m pretty pleased with it.
“You never know when you’re going to hit good form but it’s always a good time to shoot a 64. I’m hoping now I can play four days in the same way so that’s the main goal.”
Akesson carded seven birdies and a solitary bogey on the 17th, his eighth hole of the day, to mark a welcome return to form.
“I have been struggling ever since a third place earlier in the year in South Africa but my game is on its way now and it feels really good to go out there and shoot a low score,” said the 27-year-old, who has made just four cuts in 11 events since the Joburg Open.
Playing alongside Wood, home favourite and 2012 champion Bernd Wiesberger carded three birdies and one bogey in his 70, but the final member of the marquee group, Ryder Cup vice-captain Thomas Bjorn, retired with a back injury after playing 15 holes in three over.
