Madeira Island OpenMagnus Persson Atlevi turned back the clock in the weather-affected first round of the Madeira Island Open yesterday to claim a one-stroke lead, 22 years after joining the European Tour.
The 38-year-old, who started his career under the name of Persson, shot a 67 for a score of five under par, one stroke ahead of England's David Dixon and Euan Little of Scotland.
Persson Atlevi was one of the first in Sweden's vanguard of players to join the tour, along with Ove Sellberg and the newly-announced Ryder Cup vice-captain Anders Forsbrand.
Though he has never won a full tour title and is now playing the Challenge Tour, he once took Seve Ballesteros to a play-off and has two second tour places to his credit.
A €100,602 victory would earn him his full tour card, in an echo of fellow countryman Mats Lanner's victory in this event in 1998 when he revived his career.
"That's the plan," he said after escaping the heavy rain and low-lying cloud that caused a suspension of play early in the afternoon, having collected an eagle and four birdies with just one dropped shot.
"I put my long tour career down to taking four months off every winter and coaching for the next season indoors at my home club Barseback."
It was a disappointing day for Ireland's Philip Walton, who posted double-bogeys on the third and fourth holes on the way to a five-over-par round of 77.
Graeme McDowell's round was interrupted by the rain - after 12 holes he stood at one over par.
The delay meant only 12 of the afternoon starters were able to complete their rounds, leaving 60 to return this morning.
Among them were pre-tournament favourite Bradley Dredge, who was four under after 14 holes, and Holland's Maarten Lafeber who was two under at the same point.
Australian Brad Kennedy was the leader on the course at seven under after 11 holes.
MadeiraScores
Santo da Serra
(Irish and British unless stated, Par 72): (x) denotes amateurs. Play suspended for day - 60 players to complete first round.
67 - M Persson Atlevi (Swe)
68 - D Dixon, E Little
69 - S Walker, J Huldahl (Den), K Storgaard (Den)
70 - M Erlandsson (Swe), K Brink (Swe), M Nilsson (Swe), H Nystrom (Swe), D Lynn, J Kok (Rsa), I Pyman, G Rojas (Arg)
71 - P Marantz (Aus), D Gaunt (Aus), T Milford (Aus), M Farry (Fra), M Ilonen (Fin), R Sterne (Rsa), CSuneson (Spa), M Morris, A Ljunggren (Swe), J Mellor, C Gane
72 - J Berendt (Arg), D Borrego (Spa), J Donaldson, F Bisazza (Ita), S Bebb, F Andersson (Swe), GHutcheon, RMuntz (Ned), R Rock, W Bennett
73 - J Clement (Swi), A Sobrinho (Por), A Oldcorn, C Hanell (Swe), S Davis, A Rocha (Bra), A Raitt, M Pendaries (Fra), MLundberg (Swe), F Roca (Spa), F Widmark (Swe), B Barham, F Delamontagne (Fra), A McLean, B Akstrup (Den), J M Arruti (Spa)
74 - J-F Lucquin (Fra), J Little, M Fernandez (Arg), G Storm, R Bland, H Stenson (Swe) 75 - T Whitehouse, A Tadini (Ita), A Balicki (Ita), A Marshall, B Mason, C Quevedo (Spa), S Little, G Bourdy (Fra) 76 - MUrquhart, B Teilleria (Fra), J Axgren (Swe) 77 - J Sandelin (Swe), RClaydon, P Purhonen (Fin), D Botes (Rsa), G Emerson, P Walton 78 - B Banks, JBickerton, A Cunha (Por), D Freitas (Por), S S-Houi (Fra) 79 - H Paulinho (Por), (x) J Pedro Sousa (Por), S O'Hara 80 - R Coles 82 - J P Carvalhosa (Por)
