The 44-year-old, without a tournament victory since 1995, even led the tournament at one stage after playing the front nine in three under par.

But he was eventually overtaken by David who carded a superb six under par 66 for a two-shot lead over compatriot Benoit Teilleria, with defending champion Des Smyth a shot further back.

‘‘I played very well, especially on the front nine, but I struggled a bit on the back nine,’’ said Ballesteros, who hopes to confirm his European team for the second Seve Trophy on Sunday.

‘‘I was not as consistent on the back nine but 70 is a good score and I’m very happy.’’

Ballesteros, who made the cut just three times last season enjoying his best finish of 47th in this event made just one bogey all day, ironically from his best drive.

The Spaniard’s wayward driving has long been his Achilles heel but after hitting a perfect drive down the 10th, he misjudged his approach and came up short of the green and failed to get up and down.

‘‘Perhaps it’s because I’m not that used to playing from the middle of the fairway,’’ he joked.

‘‘I was having doubts about hitting a wedge or easy nine iron and hit a nine too easy. That was a stupid bogey because it was the best drive of the day.’’

David, playing only his fourth European Tour event as a professional, usually plies his trade on the Challenge Tour after missing out at the qualifying school in November with a final round 76 when level par 72 would have been enough to secure his card.

The highlight of his round was an eagle on the par-five seventh, his 16th hole, when he hit a five wood from semi-rough to 30 feet and holed the putt.

‘‘Today everything came together and it was fun,’’ said David, who won the Orange Bowel world junior event in 1995 in Miami.

‘‘I played in the first two events on the Challenge Tour this year, missed the cut in Kenya and finished 28th in Zambia.

‘‘My game was alright but I didn’t get the stroke on the greens. But I came here on Sunday feeling good and I holed some good putts.’’

Smyth, who became the oldest winner in European Tour history when he captured his eighth title at Santo da Serra, carded a 69 to make a good start to the defence of his title.

The veteran Irishman, who was in his 28th consecutive season and aged 48 years and 34 days when he won here 12 months ago, fired six birdies and three bogeys and said: ‘‘I am delighted.

‘‘I had a couple of three-putts on the front nine and missed a very short putt on the 10th so when you add those three shots together and still shoot 69, I’m very happy. I played really well in between those mistakes.’’

Madeira Leaderboard

6 under - Olivier David (Fra) (after 18 holes)

4 under - Benoit Teilleria (Fra) (18)

3 under - Des Smyth (18)

Ilya Goroneskoul (Fra) (18)

Santiago Luna (Spa) (18)

Wolfgang Huget (Ger) (15) Selected others:

2 under - Seve Ballesteros (Spa) (18)

2 over - Steve Webster (18)

4 over - Nick Dougherty (18)