Chris Wood, leading amateur in July's Open Championship, made a purposeful start to stage two of the European Tour's qualifying school in Spain.
But there was early disappointment for another former Open star, Zane Scotland, who left himself with a mountain to climb.
Wood, who finished fifth at Royal Birkdale and won stage one of the qualifying school in September, fired a two-under-par 70 to share ninth place, three shots behind early pacesetters Andreas Hogberg of Sweden, Norwegian amateur Anders Kristiansen and England's Guy Woodman.
Scotland, who qualified for the 1999 Open at Carnoustie as a 16-year-old, slid to the foot of the Montenmedio field after a turbulent 82.
Perthshire amateur Wallace Booth, part of the Scotland team which won the Eisenhower Trophy for the first time last month, joined Wood on two under alongside fellow Scot Chris Doak.
Spanish youngster Jordi Garcia Pinto surged to the top at Costa Ballena with a brilliant 10-under-par 62 to finish four ahead of Frenchman Julien Grillon and Ben Evans of England.
Ireland's John Kelly opened with a 67 while former European Tour winner Raymond Russell carded a 70.
Yorkshire rookie Danny Willett, the former world amateur number one, is in 10th spot at Sherry Golf after a 71 left him five behind Clodomiro Carranza of Argentina.
Spain's Santiago Luna, a veteran of more than 500 European Tour events and a winner on the circuit in 1995, eased to the front at Arcos Gardens with a six-under 66, one ahead of Richard Kind from the Netherlands, England's Gareth Davies and Irishman Simon Thornton.
WOOD TAKES ROUTE 66 TO THE TOP
Branch reaches goal, will start against Giants
