Portugal's Ricardo Gouveia holds a one-shot lead after the first round of the KLM Open, with Dubliner Conor Purcell nine shots off the lead after an opening round of 73.
Gouveia birdied seven of his first nine holes at The International in Amsterdam and looked on track to push for a 59 until a 90-minute storm delay checked his momentum, leaving him to settle for a seven-under-par 64.
The 33-year-old still described it as "the best round of my life so far" but he was just ahead of Connor Syme after the Scot took advantage of the rain-softened greens to post a 66, featuring eight birdies and two bogeys.
Compatriot Richie Ramsay made five birdies and a hole-out eagle in six holes from the third to leave himself a further shot back alongside England’s Dan Brown, who had an eagle of his own at the eighth, Frenchman Pierre Pineau, American John Catlin, Germany's Max Kieffer and Swede Joakim Lagergren.
Purcell, who is the sole Irish challenger in the Netherlands, sits in a share of 74th position on two over after a round featuring three birdies and five bogeys.
Reflecting on his round of 64, overall leader Gouveia told the DP World Tour website: "It was one of those rounds, started off really well and just kept the momentum going. I haven't holed this amount of putts in a long time.
"I hit it very close on the front nine. On the back nine I kept playing well but with the stop and the restart, it's always tricky when you're playing well.
"I'm really pleased with the round, I'd say it's the best round of my life so far.
"I haven't been this consistent in a while so it was nice to have a round like this. Extremely happy."
