An opening round 69 from Surrey golfer Clifford Gough ensured he was just one shot off the overnight lead at the Ryder Cup Wales 2010 Welsh Open PGA Championship.
The 27-year-old's two under par placed him in a three-way tie for second place after Wessex Golf Centre professional Jon Bevan shot to the top of the Marriott St Pierre clubhouse leaderboard with an impressive 68.
Gough (Sutton Green) made birdies at the sixth, eighth and 14th holes with the only blemish on his card a bogey at the 10th.
"I played very nicely," he said. "I have always struggled around this course but all of the guys I played with were good and that spurred me on.
"I was very pleased with my shot off the 18th which was a big two iron. You want to finish it off well.
"It was easier than I have found it before - I have missed the cut comfortably in the past. It's a one-shot wonder kind of course. You have to hit the perfect shot."
"I have been a bit hit and miss recently so it's a real confidence boost to be up there. Let's hope I can repeat it on Wednesday. This is one of the bigger competitions I would play."
Gough was tied for second with Welsh Order of Merit leader Andrew Barnett and Ferndown Forest professional Graham Howell.
Barnett, who teed off at the 10th, made six birdies and four bogeys - finishing with two threes at the par four seventh and eighth holes.
"The course is lovely," he said. It's playing really nice. Everything was great, I could not fault it. It's a good test."
A late charge at the eighth and ninth ensured Howell a place amongst the 54-hole event's frontrunners and the Bournemouth-based golfer admitted he is more than happy to lead from the front.
He said: "It's nice not to have to come out for the second day having to shoot a low number to scrape through. It's always good to have made the score rather than to chase the score.
"I was particularly pleased with my short game. It's always a very tricky course and the wind seemed to turn around while we were out there.
"A lot of the holes can trip you up without you having to do too much. This year the semi-rough is very thick.
"I'll be taking each hole as it comes and seeing what happens - a double bogey is just around the corner.
Tim Spence (Indoor Golf Experience) was among a group of seven players within touching distance of the leaders, one shot further back on one under par.