EDDIE Pepperell made a strong start to his opening day in Madrid yesterday.

The Frilford Heath member finished the day 14th at the Acciona Open de Espana, and four-under par.

Pepperell is four shots behind early pacesetters Ashun Wu, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Darius van Driel.

The 31-year-old holed birdies in the fourth and seventh holes, before a bogey on the eighth.

Three more birdies followed on holes 10, 12 and 15, to round off a positive start for Pepperell.

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He tees off at 9.40am this morning for round two, alongside Nacho Elvira, of Spain, and Italy’s Edoardo Molinari.

It follows a successful Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland, where Pepperell finished 28th, nine shots behind winner Ryan Fox, of New Zealand.

Pepperell did manage a hole in one though, on a wet and windy second day.

On his hole in one, Pepperell told Sky Sports during his on-course interview: “It was timely. I’ve not been able to get the ball in from two feet today it seems, and then I had a hole in one.

“It was actually a good shot and it gave a few of my fans out here something to cheer about.”