• Open de Espana, Day One

Larrazabal raises home hopes as Quiros struggles

Pablo Larrazabal flew the flag for Spain as some of his more notable compatriots struggled © Getty Images

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Leaderboard

Pablo Larrazabal and Romain Wattel were knocked off the top of the leaderboard late on the first day of the Open de Espana, as Scott Jamieson claimed the lead at six-under.

Larrazabal, a talented but hot-headed Spaniard who has won once on the European Tour, gave the crowd at the Real Club de Golf something to cheer about with his blemish free round of 67, good enough for a five-under total that 20-year-old Wattel - a tour rookie - matched in similar circumstances. They are both one shot behind Jamieson.

Anthony Wall was one of a few English hopefuls to start in encouraging fashion, as Danny Willett, Richard McEvoy, David Lynn and Chris Wood all carded two-under rounds of 70, while David Horsey was only another shot further back.

However, it was the struggles of the more notable names in the field that caught the eye. Matteo Manassero underwhelmed with a one-over round of 73, while home favourite Alvaro Quiros - one of 25 Spaniards in the field this week - was a shot worse than that after a poor round.

Quiros looked to have begun well with two birdies on his first three holes, but the wheels soon fell off as he subsequently picked up two bogeys and a double on his outward nine. And he could make up no ground on the return nine, finally signing for a two-over round of 74 that leaves him with work still to do.

Meanwhile Elliot Saltman, returning to European Tour action after a three-month ban following an investigation into improper ball-marking on the Challenge Tour last season, showed nerves in beginning his day with a double-bogey six, but battled back to eventually finish with an even-par round of 72.

Miguel Angel Jimenez is at one-under, with Colin Montgomerie at two-under.

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