Garrick Higgo made a double-bogey five on the sixth hole, but an eagle on the seventh got those two lost shots straight back on Thursday as he carded a four-under-par 68 to take a share of fourth in the first round of the European Tour’s Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos Spa & Golf Resort.

Higgo found himself three shots off the pace, after local Vitor Lopes made six birdies and an eagle on his way to a seven-under-par 65 and a two-stroke edge over Damien Perrier of France and Spaniard Carlos Pigem.

Sharing fourth spot with Higgo were England’s Julian Suri, Alexander Knappe of Germany and another Portuguese player in Ricardo Santos.

Georg Coetzee, last week’s winner in the Portgual Masters, set off in search for a third victory in as many weeks with a three-under-par opener that was sprinkled with seven birdies, two bogeys and a double.

Jbe’ Kruger was on two-under, while Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent endured a nightmare 80.