Three English lions roared to the top of the leaderboard on the opening day of the inaugural Weston Homes PGA International Seniors tournament.
After a week in which pride in the England football team was restored, it was the turn of three of golf's elder statesmen to add more gloss to the nation's sporting pedigree on the international circuit.
All-time career money winner Carl Mason, Nick Job and Spanish-based Jeff Hall left a field drawn from all corners of the world to play catch-up after carding four-under-par 68s over Stoke by Nayland's Gainsborough Course.
The trio head a congested leaderboard at the £175,000 event with five players a shot further back, while more than half of the 78-strong field are within four strokes of the leaders including former Ryder Cup players Eamonn Darcy, who settled for a 70 after a dropping shot at the last, Italy's Costantino Rocca and in-form Gordon J Brand, who both finished at level par 72.
Mason's presence at the head of the field is no surprise given his dominance over the track 12 months ago when four sucessive rounds of 67 landed him the PGA Seniors Championship.
"I played really well but I didn't birdie any of the par fives which was annoying and I was disappointed I didn't shoot 67 again!" said 55-year-old Mason.
He added: "It's always nice to get off to good start. I'm feeling good, enjoying myself and when I feel like that I'm extremely capable of winning."
Mason will tee up with his close friend Job when the leaders go off just after midday, the latter thankful for a few bunker tips from Mason to keep him in the hunt after chipping out of a greenside trap at the last to within one foot to keep pace with the early leaders.
"I've had a bit of mare with bunkers over the past couple years but my on course guru, which is Mason, has given me the bunker lessons," said Job, whose round comprised five birdies and one bogey.
"He's given me the bunker workout and I've started hitting shots with more confidence out of traps and that was a tricky one."
Early starter Hall, Bristol born but resident in Marbella, looked odds-on to set the tournament alight having eased to six under only to double bogey the 17th. However, he was content with his round.
"I need a good tournament as I'm right on the bubble at 39th on the Order of Merit," said Hall, who needs to finish in the top 30 by the end of the season.
"If it's not this week at least in the next four events, so it was important to get off to a good start. I went out without any expectations so I'd definitely have taken 68 at the start of the day."
Of the PGA's contenders, Cheshire-based Richard A Green (Bramhall) made the most of his sponsors invite with an encouraging two-under-par 70.
"I enjoyed it as I played quite nicely, doing nothing wrong really," he said.
"I had a good run birdieing eight, nine and 11 to go two under. I should have made two birdies on the last two holes but I'm pleased with that.
"I'm really happy as I came with a target of trying to finish in the top 20, to finish of my season. That would be great and this has given me a chance."