Alvaro Velasco leads in Madeira after 12-hole hot streak

SPANIARD Alvaro Velasco leads the Madeira Open after shooting an eight-under par 64 which contained seven birdies in the last 12 holes.

The 30-year-old, who won the 2010 Challenge Tour, but lost his card on the main circuit last year, said: “I was consistent all day and putted very well. If you hit it in the right spots, the course is quite easy, but if you’re in the wrong place it’s easy to get in trouble. I can’t remember the last time I made such a good start to a tournament.”

Earlier, Tommy Fleetwood of England shot a six-under 66 to share the clubhouse lead before Velasco’s impressive finish.

Fleetwood made seven birdies and one bogey on the mountainous Santo de Serra course.

“Anytime you shoot a 66 is good and the course was very much for the taking,” Fleetwood said. “You shouldn’t get conditions any better than that as there was no wind.”

Also on six under are former Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson, Southport’s Ben Parker, Morten Orum Madsen of Denmark and Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren and Magnus A Carlsson .

Last year, Fleetwood became the youngest player to win on the Challenge Tour by capturing the Kazakhstan Open at 20,. which helped him finish top of the money list to secure his full European Tour card.

The Englishman shot an 80 in the opening round of the Spanish Open last week in Seville, making Thursday’s effort a turnaround of 14 shots. “You couldn’t get more opposite displays comparing last week’s first round with this,” he said.

Lloyd Saltman was the leading Scot, tied in 14th after a four-under 68, with Gary Orr, Jamie McLeary and Alastair Forsyth a shot further back, all in a tie for 22nd.