On a sunny and breezy 1st day, Challenge Tour player Ricardo Santos scored a solid 5 under par 67, round the Castro Marim GC to take a 2 shot after the 1st round. He leads Spain's Miguel Cantera who shot a 3 under par 69, with Ricardo Candeias and Gonzalo Vincente a further shot back on 70's. Closing out this leading group is Henrique Paulino on even par 72.

Santos who had struggled with his putting in the last couple of IGT events, finally got something going on the greens making 2 eagles on par 5's, where his long hitting get a him up in two, and a further 3 birdies, with a couple of bogeys coming on the front nine at the opening hole and par 3 6th hole.