An opening round 68 from Wessex Golf Centre professional Jon Bevan ensured he held the overnight clubhouse lead at Marriott St Pierre.
A bogey at the 18th spoilt an otherwise flawless round from Bevan as he put himself into contention early on with birdies at the eighth, ninth, 10th, and 15th.
In hot pursuit were Welsh Order of Merit leader Andrew Barnett, Ferndown Forest professional Graham Howell and Surrey golfer Clifford Gough after they all shot two under par rounds in Chepstow.
Bevan said: "The course is fine. They are obviously doing a lot of work on the course but it stood up fine to the work they have done and the weather we have had.
"It's a great place, I enjoy playing here. I've got no targets. Pressure is something you put on yourself. I will go out there and play my own game.
"We will see what happens and I'll be giving myself a good rest and preparing for any weather."
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."
"The season has been going really well. It's just nice to get in there and hopefully have a decent tournament.
Howell, who also began at 10, started strongly, following up an immediate birdie with a second at the 13th before falling back to level after bogeys at 16 and 17.
But a late flourish at the eighth and ninth ensured a place amongst the 54-hole event's frontrunners.
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.
A group of seven players - including three-time European Tour champion Stephen Dodd, Weymouth's Michael Watson, Caerphilly's James Lee, Paul Harris of Newport and Canford Magna professional Paul Jones - are just one shot back on one under.