Ross Drummond rediscovered his putting touch to move into contention on day one of the De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship at Slaley Hall.
The Scot made a disastrous start with two early bogeys but finished in style by drilling a three wood off a downhill lie to two feet for a birdie and one under par 71.
It gave him a share of the clubhouse lead alongside Italy's Giuseppe Cali. Gordon J Brand was a shot further back on level par after two bogeys in his final three holes with a clutch of players at one over par including another ex-Ryder Cup player, 63-year-old Maurice Bembridge.
Drummond, who is still searching for his maiden win on the European Seniors Tour, was out in 38 so was delighted with his inward nine around a rain-sodden Hunting Course.
"I'm happy with that - the course was playing very long because of all the rain so it was a bit of a grind at times," he said.
"The PGA has moved quite a lot of tees up so it's shortened it a bit for us but it's definitely playable and the greens are very nice and if you're stroking your putts nicely you can make some birdies."
Drummond got off to a dreadful start with dropped shots on the second and third holes but hauled himself into the red with four birdies on the back nine to add to his first at the par five 4th.
"Nothing happened for me going out at all," said Drummond. "I had quite a few birdie chances but couldn't get the ball in the hole at all but on the back nine I started rolling the putts better and made four birdies.
"It's just unfortunate I had a bogey on 17 when I came up short in the bunker and didn't get it up and down but had a huge bonus on 18 with a three. I hit three wood off the tee, three for the second shot and put it to two feet which was a great way to finish."
Drummond, who is attached to Dundonald Links, is looking for greater consistency in his game and believes he's close to finding it.
"I've been playing fairly inconsistent this year but today was a lot better," he said. "Today I managed to make some putts and hole some birdies which is something I haven't managed so far. At least if you can make some birdies it offsets the bogeys and bad shots."
Brand in contrast was left cursing his putter after a string of missed opportunities.
"I played really well I just can't get a putt in but I'm chipping well fortunately," he said. "But I've not holed a putt and the trouble is you can't keep playing that well all the time.
"I had loads of chances, the further it went on the more I thought I was going to miss them.
"I don't see anyone tearing the course up and it's just playing quite long at the moment. The rain won't help but the greens are actually really good but because of the rain it's hard then to get the pace of the greens.
"I think when the course is so wet, the earlier the better to go out and play because it's going to mush up more.
"If it stays like this all week with the tees back it will be single figures under par that wins it.
"I'm pleased with where I am and if start putting I'll win."
Italy's Costantino Rocca, who began with eight straight pars, eventually signed for a three over par 75.
Crowd favourites Ian Woosnam and Sam Torrance were one over par after six holes.