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MADEIRA, Portugal -- Portugal's Ricardo Santos birdied seven holes and led by one stroke after the first round of the BPI Madeira Islands Open on Thursday.

Santos, a 24-year-old playing just his seventh European Tour event after his debut five years ago, was 1 over par after four holes but birdied five in a row at the hilltop Santo da Serra course to finish on 6-under 66.

Former Ryder Cup player Peter Baker of England and Notah Begay of the United States were tied for second after 67s.

Baker, a 39-year-old Englishman who lost his European Tour card three years ago and relies mostly on invitations, was making his first start of the season.

Begay, who advanced through the qualifying school last year, did not drop a stroke on his round.

Four players were tied behind them on 4 under.

Baker, one of Ian Woosnam's assistants in last September's victory over the Americans in Ireland, is making his first start of the season. He built on two opening birdies by picking up further strokes on the fifth, sixth, 12th and 15th before dropping a shot at the short 17th.

One of Britain's most promising players when he turned professional in 1986, Baker was in just his second full season when he beat Nick Faldo in a playoff for the Benson and Hedges International, grabbing an eagle on the final hole to tie and another when they went into sudden death.

His Ryder Cup cap came at The Belfry in 1993 and he picked up three points out of four, two of them with Woosnam as his partner. But he has not won a single event since and is without a top-10 finish for almost three years.

Santos, who had a plus-5 handicap as an amateur, was 1 over after four, but then birdied seven of the next 10 holes. He is playing just his seventh Tour event and it was a far cry from his debut in the 2002 Portuguese Open, when he recorded rounds of 85 and 84.

Defending champion Jean Van de Velde and Scotland's Paul Lawrie -- paired together and the two central characters of the 1999 British Open drama at Carnoustie -- dragged each other down, both coming in with 75s.

Twelve players had still to complete their first rounds when play was suspended because of the fading light and earlier hold-ups caused by low clouds.

England's Oliver Wilson, who lost a playoff for the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand earlier this month, was 6 under and tied for the lead with five to play, but bogeyed four of them for a 70.

"It's a good start, but I know I have a lot to do," Santos said. "It is hard to make the move from amateur to professional, but I have practiced and practiced very hard to help me with my ambitions."

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