Lloyd Saltman emerged from the clouds smiling after finishing as the leading Scot after carding a four under par 68 on day one of the Madeira Islands Open.

Saltman, playing on the mountainous Santo de Serra course for the first time, holed an eagle and four birdies to end the day four shots behind Spain's Alvaro Velasco, who recorded a round of 64 to lead by two.

Six players, including former Ryder Cup competitor Oliver Wilson, are tied in second place on six under par.

Saltman's score is his equal lowest in just 11 rounds of competition this year as the Archerfield Links player strives to regain full Tour membership. However, a delay of almost 15 minutes due to clouds rolling in from the Atlantic meant Saltman and the morning half of the field were lost to spectators.

The 26-year-old emerged to cap his round at the seventh in landing a 205-yard 6-iron to just three feet and knocking in the eagle putt in a round of just 28 putts, though.

"Seeing the eagle putt drop at seven and then to birdie the last was great but every aspect of my game was pretty good," he said. "The golf course was very much for the taking but it's very hard and very fiery.

"My last event was in Sicily and while I've played a couple of events in Scotland it will be nice now as I am into a run of tournaments. Everything is heading in the right direction for me, especially having not played that much this year."

Jamie McLeary and Gary Orr are next best of the other 11 Scots on three under par. Orr had five birdies while McLeary holed an eagle at the par-four sixth.