Matteo Manassero plays good at the Andalucian Open

Spain looks like it's a happy hunting ground for Manassero - the very first of his two European tour victories came at the Castello Masters really.

"This is quite much like Castellon - a little bit more hilly maybe," he explained.

"It's my first time at Aloha. This system suits my game since it is shortly, and i also don't have to hit 300 yards to succeed in the par fives. You'll need accurate shots and a good strategy, i love this particular kind of course.

"You ought to squeeze ball in play after which do well around the greens. Used to do just about everything right in addition to one shot.

"The key today was my putting. I created a couple of Taylormade Burner 2.0 irons 20 footers and placed the ball for the right spots."

At 63rd on the planet rankings, Manassero retains the opportunity to climb in the top 50 should he win here soon, which may see him result in the shortlist for automatic Masters qualification.

It won't be his first appearance at Augusta, however - he allowed to play there this season since the British amateur champion and finished a more than respectable 36th.

Manassero's round was threatened by way of a bogey at the seventh, his 16th, but he showed his class by hitting back with two more birdies with the eighth and ninth - sinking an 18-footer Ping G20 irons for the former and pitching to seven feet on the latter.

Fasth, part of Europe's winning Ryder Cup side with the Belfry a decade ago, has struggled with his form lately and needed to fall back on his career earnings so as to keep his Tour card last year after falling to 132nd about the money list.

The Swede eagled the long 16th and mixed six more birdies with three bogeys.

Six more players are tied for seventh on four under, one shot behind the chasing pack - Swede Joakim Lagergren, England's Tommy Fleetwood, France's Julien Quesne, Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal, South African discount golf clubs Alex Haindl and Canadian Mike Weir, who may have returned to Spain, scene of a single of his most memorable victories at the 2000 American Express Championship, so that you can rekindle his career following elbow surgery.

Abu Dhabi winner Robert Rock and tournament host Miguel Angel Jimenez were among a large group on three under, five shots over lead.