Luis Carbonetti rattled off three successive birdies to set the pace early on day one of the De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship.
The Argentine, who started on the 10th tee, dropped a shot early on but was back to level with a birdie on the 331 yard par 4 15th.
He moved into red numbers with another on the 395-yard par 4 16th and took a two on the 184 yard par 3 17th.
But scoring was proving difficult on the Dave Thomas-designed Hunting Course, with only four players under par.
Italian Costantino Rocca, who finished runner up to Carl Mason last year, was plodding a steady path with eight straight birdies to keep him insight of the leaders.
Order of Merit leader Ian Woosnam tees off at 12.55pm alongside defending champion Mason, while former Ryder Cup stalwart Gordon Brand Junior makes his debut with Sam Torrance.
Live scoring during all four rounds of the Championship available here.