Superb 65 gives Aguilar two-shot lead in Austria

Chile’s Felipe Aguilar carded his best round on the European Tour for 17 months to take a two-shot lead on first day of the Lyoness Open in Austria.

The world number 399’s seven-under-par 65 – his best effort since the Joburg Open in January 2016 – took him clear of the chasing pack at the Diamond Country Club in Atzenbrugg outside Vienna.

South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl, Sweden’s Johan Carlsson and England’s former Walker Cup winner Ashley Chesters are in joint second with two other Englishmen, Graeme Storm and Oliver Wilson, a further shot behind in a tie for fifth with France’s Joel Stalter.

No-one could match the form of the 42-year-old Aguilar, whose last win came in 2014, on the front nine as he raced to five under after just seven holes and a birdie at the 10th put him in the outright lead only for him to

0 Aguilar: best in 17 months. bogey the next. However, he responded with birdies at 13 and 14 but failed to capitalise on the back-to-back par fives and the par-three last but still had enough to pass clubhouse leaders Zyl and Carlsson, later joined by Chesters.

Duncan Stewart was the best of the Scots, carding a one-under-par 71. Stephen Gallacher is a shot further back, a stroke ahead of Craig Lee. Marc Warren has it all to do after a five-over 77, and Scott Henry will struggle to make the weekend after an 81.