Matt Wallace has made a promising start to the first event of the Challenge Tour season in Africa.

The Moor Park Golf Club professional shot a three-under-par 68 in the first round of the Barclays Kenya Open to leave him four shots off the early pace in Nairobi.

The 26-year-old, who secured his card for Europe’s second-tier tour after winning six tournaments during a historic 2016 Alps Tour campaign, made a strong start with a birdie four on his first hole, the tenth.

A second birdie followed with a two on the 16th and although Wallace dropped a shot at the par four next hole, he immediately retrieved it with a third birdie on his ‘front’ none at the par five 18th.

The Pinner-based player had reached four-under for his round by the third hole after picking up back-to-back shots, but he dropped back to three-under with a bogey six on the par five seventh.

South African Jaco Ahlers is the first round leader after a seven-under-par round of 64.