Yorkshire's Kiran Matharu makes impressive start at Tour School Final in Morocco

Matharu set the target at Samanah, one of two venues being used, after making four birdies in six holes, including three in a row from the sixth.

The 26-year-old carded a 68, and said: “I didn’t start off particularly well, but I saved a few bunker shots and after that I holed two 15 footers for birdie. On the par-3 I hit it to about one foot.

" I just played steady all the way around and then made another birdie and after that I parred my way in from 11 onwards. I didn’t have any birdies on the par-5s so there were more chances, but I’m happy with four under. It was a good start to the tournament.

“I think Samanah is easier than Amelkis (the other venue) and there are more birdie chances because it’s shorter.

"There are a few longer holes on the Amelkis course so you just have to make sure you hit a good drive on those holes.”

The Final Qualifier is a five-round marathon, with a cut to the top 60 players and ties after the first four rounds.

The final round is scheduled to be played at Samanah Country Club on Tuesday.

Caroline Rominger, from Switzerland, Norway's Rachel Raastad, Karolin Lampert, of Germany, and Scotland's Kelsey MacDonald are in a four-way share of the lead on five-under-par 67.

Rominger and Lampert played at Samanah like Matharu, while Raastad and MacDonald had successful rounds at nearby Amelkis on a beautiful day of blue skies and sunshine.