Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts carved out a two-shot lead in the Dutch Open first round on Thursday thanks to three successive birdies over the last three holes.

The 27-year-old’s best ever European Tour round of eight-under-par 62 gave him a two-stroke edge over India’s Shiv Kapur and England’s Kenneth Ferrie.

“That is the lowest round I have ever had on Tour, my previous best was 63 so it was a great day for me,” said Colsaerts.

The longest driver on the Tour this season, Colsearts, who spent the last three years on the second-tier Challenge Tour, believes this tournament could represent his best opportunity of breaking his European Tour title drought.

“It’s been very good for me to be able to come back out and feel comfortable straight away and start to get some good results,” he said.

“I am realising again that I can compete at the highest level. I am still not happy with the level of my chipping and putting but I am always working on that.”

Kapur eagled the 18th, his tenth hole, and from then on added four further birdies.

Ryder Cup debutant Ross Fisher was part of a seven-way tie for fourth on five-under, along with fellow Englishman Nick Dougherty, Argentine Tano Goya, France’s Raphael Jacquelin, Scot Richie Ramsay, Portugal’s Jose-Filipe Lima and home favourite Joost Luiten.

US PGA champion Martin Kaymer, another Ryder Cup player, returned to action with a three-under 67, while defending champion Simon Dyson parred every single hole in his opening 70.