Flying start for Coltart

Scotland’s Andrew Coltart, who has failed to make a halfway cut this season, made a stunning start to the Madeira Island Open today.

Starting from the 10th, Coltart birdied his opening hole then fired an albatross two on the 11th to lie four under par for just two holes.

The former Ryder Cup player holed out with a six iron from 226 yards on the 572-yard par five to jump into an early two-shot lead.

It was a marked contrast to the Scot’s form so far in 2005, which has seen him fail to play more than two rounds in any of his six events. The 34-year-old is also yet to break 70.

Coltart finished 143rd on the Order of Merit last season without a single top-10 finish and only retained his playing rights due to his position on the tour’s career money list.

After joking yesterday about coming prepared for the bad weather which traditionally plagues the Santo da Serra course some 2,300 feet above sea level, Coltart and the rest of the early starters were taking advantage of perfect playing conditions.

England’s Gary Emerson also made light of the 11th with an eagle three to move into a share of second on two under par alongside former Ryder Cup player Peter Baker, who had birdied the 11th and 12th.