Matt Wallace has some ground to make up after shooting a one-over par 71 in the opening round of final qualifying for the European Tour in Spain.

The Moor Park golfer is aiming to secure his European Tour card by finishing in the top 25 and ties at the PGA Catalunya Resort in Girona but is currently in a share of 88th spot with the first round almost completed.

The Pinner resident made the ideal start with a birdie on the first hole, only to double bogey the third and drop another shot on the third. However, he recovered from those setbacks by picking up shots on the seventh and ninth holes to go out in a level par 35 on the Tour Course.

Wallace made it three birdies in four holes by picking up another shot on the tenth, but bogeys on 12, 14 and 15 saw him slip back to two over par before recovering one of those shots with a birdie on 16.

Although Wallace is eight shots behind the leaders – South Africa’s Michael Palmer and Spain’s Pep Angles are setting the pace on seven-under par – the top 25 and ties currently stand at three-under.

Wallace, who finished 11th on the Alps Tour this season, secured his place at final qualifying after finishing in a tie for sixth place in the second qualifying competition.

Final qualifying differs from conventional golf tournaments in that is held over six rounds with the cut coming at the end of round four.