England's Matt Blackey survived an early morning encounter with some unseasonal fog to make an excellent start to the Open de Argentina.

Blackey carded a first round 66, four under par, to lie just two shots off the early pace set by Paraguay's Angel Franco at The Jockey Club in Buenos Aires.

Leader Franco carded seven birdies and one bogey in his superb 64 that gave him a one shot lead over Spain's Jose Manuel Lara, Germany's Erol Simsek and Sweden's Carl Pettersson Olle Karlsson and Richard Johnson.

Blackey is third alongside Mikael Lundberg and Argentina's Angel Cabrera.

Franco, whose brother Carlos plays on the US PGA tour, revealed he had his son to thank for his improved display.

"I had surgery on my spine two years ago and changed my swing because of that," he said.

"I was a little lost so I watched some old videos from the time I was playing well and wondered why.

"My son, who is also a professional, then told me that in the past my stance was much more open. I've been practising that for a couple of days and am hitting the ball stronger and I'm more comfortable."

Blackey (29), carded five birdies and just one bogey, the only blemish coming on the opening hole of the day as he teed off in the third match at 7:50 a.m. local time.

"I bogeyed the first mainly because I couldn't see the fairway because of the fog!" said the Hampshire professional. "I dread to think what the first two groups could see.

"It was coming in waves and standing on the range I thought it would be okay but when I got on the tee you couldn't see more than 200 yards."