Updated: Thursday, 16 May 2013 22:42 | Comments Lloyd Saltman is the surprise leader of the Madeira Islands Open

Scot Lloyd Saltman hailed a virtually flawless round after equalling his best 18 holes as a professional on the first day of the Madeira Islands Open.

The Edinburgh-based 27-year-old carded an eight-under-par 64 to take a two-shot lead from England's Richard Bland.

Saltman was four under through five and two further birdies around the turn meant he covered the first 11 holes in 39 strokes.

However, an oversight hitting the wrong club at the short 315-yard par-four 12th cost him his only bogey of the day, although he bounced back with three birdies over the last six holes.

"I just played really well tee to green and made the putts I needed to make and my short game was really good as well so I can't really pick any faults from that round," said the former Walker Cup player.

"I've been working very hard trying to get the game as good as I can and it's nice to see the work paying off.

"I have put myself in a great position and I'm here to win."

The one error Saltman, who tied for fourth at this tournament in 2011, did cost him a shot at the 12th.

"It was a momentum killer. It's a short hole and I was only going in with a wedge but for the first time in my life I actually took the wrong club out," he told europeantour.com.

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Saltman leads at Madeira Islands Open