McGowan finishes well to take early lead

The 29-year-old’s eight-under-par round left him one stroke clear of hometown favourite Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Italian Lorenzo Gagli and Australian Brett Rumford on a day of low scoring at El Encin Golf Hotel. Gagli’s compatriot Edoardo Molinari follows in outright fifth place on six under, with a host of players one shot further back and world No 1 Luke Donald heading another sizeable group at four under.

McGowan birdied three of the first four holes but it was around the turn where his round took flight, with five successive birdies from the ninth.

Two more followed in the final three holes to leave him on top, despite recording his second bogey at the 15th.

Fernandez-Castano was on track for a share of top spot in his home event until he bogeyed the par-five last, but his stunning front nine – he also hit five birdies in a row, from the third – kept him firmly in the picture.

Gagli, by contrast, timed his run late, with an outward 34 which was no more than solid followed by an eagle at the 11th and a closing birdie hat-trick.

Rumford, meanwhile, started at the 10th with back-to-back birdies and hit five more in six holes between the 17th and fourth on a solid card.

Edoardo Molinari made a steady beginning to his round after starting at the 10th, with eight successive pars before a birdie at the 18th and an eagle at the par-five first sparked a surge to six under.

The Italian picked up another shot at the par-three fifth before closing with two more birdies.

That left him a shot ahead of a nine-strong group at five under, which included his brother Francesco, who carded three successive birdies from the sixth in a bogey-free round.

Harrogate’s John Parry enjoyed a promising first round, leaving himself five shots off the lead after an opening round of 69.

Sheffield’s Danny Willett, however, has plenty of work to do to avoid the cut after opening with a disappointing 74.