Callum Shinkwin and Matt Wallace have both made good starts at the NBO Oman Open.

Bushey professional Shinkwin fired a five-under-par opening round of 67 to sit in a tie for fourth, and Moor Park club-mate Wallace is also nicely poised two shots further back in a share of 12th heading into tomorrow's second round in Muscat.

The competitive year has started slowly for Shinkwin, who missed the cut in the two European Tour events he has played so far in 2018, but the 24-year-old was in good form today as he produced a bogey-free first 18 holes.

Last year’s Scottish Open runner-up went out in a three-under-par 33 after birdies on the two par fives on the front nine, the third and seventh, and he picked up another shot with a two on eight.

The third par five, the 12th, was to yield a fourth birdie for Shinkwin and he secured his fifth at the par four 14th.

Fellow Moor Park professional Wallace started his challenge earlier in the day and after a birdie three at the second, he played par golf until what was to be his only bogey of his round at the par three 11th.

But a three at 14 was to kick start a run of three birdies in four holes as the 27-year-old finished strongly, picking up further shots on the par fours at 15 and 17.

Wallace also missed the cut at his last event, the Maybank Championship, but that was the first time he had failed to qualify for the final two rounds in 15 tournaments with the exception of October's British Masters when he pulled out through injury.

English duo Paul Waring and Matthew Southgate are the joint first round leaders on seven-under, one shot clear of Dutchman Daan Huizing, with Shinkwin alongside Andy Sullivan on five-under.