Colsaerts on form again at Vilamoura to shoot a 64

Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium in action during the Pro Am event prior to the start of the Portugal Masters at Oceanico Victoria Golf Club. Picture: Getty

Former Ryder Cup player Nicolas Colsaerts continued his brilliant run of scoring in the Portugal Masters to claim a share of the first round lead in Vilamoura.

Colsaerts fired an opening seven-under-par 64 at  Oceanico Victoria Golf Club, the course where a missed birdie putt on the final hole of his opening round a year ago cost him the first-ever 59 on the European Tour.

The 32-year-old went on to finish second behind France’s Alexander Levy in an event reduced to 36 holes due to bad weather, but is in pole position to go one better and secure his first win since 2012 after carding two eagles, four birdies and one bogey.

England’s Andy Sullivan carded eight birdies and one bogey to catch Colsaerts late in the day – which began with a 55-minute delay due to fog – with Thomas Pieters, Eduardo de la Riva, David Drysdale and Thomas Aiken all on six under.

“It’s one of those courses where I feel comfortable,” Colsaerts, who is 22 under par for his last three rounds here, said. “My length is also a pretty big advantage.

“There are a couple of holes where I can take shortcuts.”

Sullivan, who has won twice on the European Tour this season, said: “I got off to a bit of a scrappy start but made a good swing on the seventh and grew in confidence. I hit a lot of nice shots in the middle of the round and putted quite well.”