David Carter carded eight birdies on his way to equalling the course record of 65 to lead by one after the first round of the Compaq European Grand Prix opened at De Vere Slaley Hall.
Carter, who ended last year in style by helping England to a first victory in the World Cup alongside Nick Faldo, was eight-under par after 15 holes as he attacked the record of 65 - held jointly by Ross Drummond and Colin Montgomerie. But a hooked five iron on the ninth, his last cost him his one and only bogey.
South African-born Carter, third in the recent English Open, played consistently throughout the morning as he revelled in the perfect conditions at the par-72 Northumberland venue.
"In the three years I've played here it has never played a sperfect as this," he said. "I've played well for a while now and my putting was superb. It was unfortunate to drop a shot on the last."
The 27-year-old has recorded top-ten finishes in his last three tournaments and today owed most of his success to the 29 putts he had during the round.
He leads by one from Australian Peter O'Malley, who took last week off to watch his fellow Aussies win the Cricket World Cup, while among the group a further shot back on five under par is last week's runner-up David Park. The Welshman, who leads the Challenge Tour Rankings, earned his place this week after his outstanding performance in Morocco where he led from the start only to be denied by Spainiard Miguel Angel Martin at the sixth hole of a sudden-death play-off.
