At six under, he was alongside Japan’s Nobuhito Sato who after nine wins and more than €2.9m in earnings on his home tour came through the European qualifying school last November.

They were two strokes in front of a group which included Essex’s Richard McEvoy, winner of the tour school, Londoner Brian Davis, Scot Stephen Gallacher and three of the first day pace-setters Andrew Oldcorn, Paul Broadhurst and Matthew Blackey – all of whom had yet to resume.

Ferrie, a former British boy champion from Ashington, finished 34th on last season’s Order of Merit with winnings of nearly £440,000 (€644,000).

Davis moved up to a career-high 50th on the world rankings on Monday but needs to remain in the top 50 for three more weeks to secure a Masters debut next month.

He had a real rollercoaster ride. After kicking off again with a birdie, he bogeyed the 14th and 15th, made an eagle two on the driveable par-four 16th and birdied the next – but he then ran up a six on the long 18th to turn in 35.

Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, who could knock Davis out of that top 50 list, was only a stroke behind him after collecting birdies at the 11th and 15th.

French star Jean Van de Velde, the 1999 Open runner-up who has to earn €14,600 from this and his next start to remain exempt on tour, reached four under with five birdies in 10 holes but then came a cropper at the short third for the second day running.

In the opening round it cost him a triple-bogey six. He went in the hazard again this time but was able to drop by the green and limited the damage to a bogey four.