Portimao - England's Matt Wallace conjured up a 10-under par 63 to lead the Portugal Open before Thursday's first round was suspended due to thunder and lightning.
The 27-year-old reeled off 10 birdies -- including five in a row from the 12th -- to establish a one shot lead over Sebastian Heisele.
Germany's Heisele carded an eagle, nine birdies and two bogeys in his opening 64.
American Julian Suri and Englishmen Paul Maddy and Jamie Rutherford were a further two shots back on six under after posting matching rounds of 67.
"It was a fantastic round really," Wallace said after his impressive day's work at Morgado Golf Resort at Portimao.
"It wasn't looking great at the start when the rain came in ten minutes before my tee time. Then it stopped just as we got on to the tee, so that was kind of a good omen.
"It was the old clich. I just took one shot at a time and we had a really good day out there."
The first round is due to resume at 07:30 GMT on Friday.
Scores after the first round scores in the EPGA Portugal Open at Morgado Golf Resort, Portimao on Thursday (GBR & IRL unless stated, par 73)
63 - Matt Wallace
64 - Sebastian Heisele (GER)
67 - Julian Suri (USA), Paul Maddy, Jamie Rutherford
68 - Ben Evans, James Allan, Mark Tullo (CHI), Thomas Linard (FRA), Christian Braeunig (GER), Erik Van Rooyen (RSA)
69 - Sam Walker, Max Orrin, Richard McEvoy, Rhys Davies, Oliver Fisher Clement Berardo (FRA)
70 - Marcus Armitage, Roope Kakko (FIN), Garrick Porteous, Zander Lombard (RSA) Matt Ford, Grant Forrest, Aaron Rai, Alvaro Quiros (ESP), Robert Coles Justin Walters (RSA), Borja Virto (ESP), Jamie Abbott