Damien McGrane leads the Hassan Trophy in Agadir after a first round 65 left him two clear of the field on seven-under.
McGrane, whose only European Tour victory came by nine shots in the China Open three years ago, is two ahead of Spaniard Alejandro Canizares, while Scot Richie Ramsay and Welshman Phillip Price are part of a group three back.
Peter Lawrie is next best of the Irish on three-under in joint 10th place.
Of the other Irish; Mark Murphy is on level par, Shane Lowry one-over, Michael Hoey two-over, Gareth Maybin five-over and Paul McGinley seven-over.
County Meath golfer McGrane said: "If you play well you have plenty of opportunities and I made my fair share of putts.
"To start with an eagle gets the confidence up and with the greens soft you can fire at the pins."
Eleven shots on one hole has almost certainly ended Robert Rock's hopes of celebrating his 25th birthday at The Masters in a fortnight's time.
The septuple bogey came on the 424-yard fourth of the Royal Palace course and led to Rock opening with a five-over-par 77 - 12 strokes more than McGrane.
Rock, the conqueror of Tiger Woods and the world's top four in Abu Dhabi two months ago, has to finish first or second to have a chance of climbing into the world's top 50 in time for the first major of the season.
But even after an eagle on the long 17th he was not even in the top 100 of the 126-strong field.
Italian 18-year-old Matteo Manassero is the other player trying to qualify for Augusta. He has to win, but a three-under 69 keeps the dream alive for him.
