JAMIE Donaldson is spearheading the challenge for a first home winner at the Wales Open.

Donaldson was leading the Welsh pack overnight and gave the home fans something to cheer about with a solid first round 68 on a good day for the Principality's players. It left him four under par three shots off the leader Ian Poulter.

The Macclesfield-based Welshman has been a surprise hit on the European Tour this season, but despite some close finishes, including a joint second at the Algarve Open in Portugal, he is still searching for his first tour win as a professional.

And following his first round Donaldson was confident that the elusive first victory may only be round the corner.

"I was obviously very pleased with how things went," said Donaldson.

"I started really well and that's always a huge help. But conditions suited me and I knew it was a good opportunity to shoot a decent score.

"I slipped a bit in the middle but then got my game back together and made up for it.

"I've always said that it's not possible to win a tournament in the first round but it is possible to lose one. So with that in mind I know I've set myself up nicely.

"I'm pretty consistent lately and I know that if I continue to play like that then I've got every chance of winning.

"It's obviously on my mind that I've not won a European Tour event but I know I'm not far away. To do it on home soil would be extra special.

"But I'm not getting carried away and I just need to relax and take each round as it comes and put myself in contention, and if I keep on playing like I did yesterday then anything is achievable."

Donaldson, 27, admitted that seeing Blackwood's Bradley Dredge win his first European Tour event in the Madeira Island Open in March was a huge boost.

"Bradley's a great guy and it's great that he's finally getting the results he deserves. He's a good golfer and that first win can only serve to inspire me to go out and get mine."