England's Adam Gee, whose previous appearance in the Lyoness Open ended after one day and 81 shots, claimed a share of the lead on his return to Diamond Country Club yesterday.

Gee fired an eagle, four birdies and one bogey to card an opening five-under-par 67, which was matched by Sweden's Mikael Lundberg, as the later starters made the most of improving conditions in Austria.

Lundberg birdied two of his last three holes, with English pair Richard Finch and Matthew Baldwin, Welshman Rhys Davies and American Berry Henson a shot behind.

On a crowded leaderboard a further 19 players were within three shots of the lead, including France's Thomas Levet, who compared his golf to that of the late Seve Ballesteros after an erratic 69.

Local favourite Bernd Wiesberger’s US Open gamble remains in the balance after an opening 71 marred by a double-bogey six on his penultimate hole.

Wiesberger needs to repeat his 2012 triumph in his home event to qualify for the second Major of the season at Pinehurst next week by moving inside the top 60 in the world rankings from his current position of 69th.

The 28-year-old from nearby Vienna has put all his eggs in one basket by not playing the recent qualifying event at Walton Heath and missing last week’s Nordea Masters to concentrate on this week.

Another "local" favourite, Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez, went one better than playing partner Wiesberger with a round of 70, the 50-year-old having moved to Vienna following his recent wedding to Austrian Susanne Styblo.

Best of the Irish was Simon Thornton who shot an opening 71 while Michael Hoey and Ruaidhri McGee were two shots further back.