Norfolk's Andrew Marshall will be aiming to build on an excellent start when the rain-affected first round of the Mallorca Classic resumes this morning.

Norfolk's Andrew Marshall will be aiming to build on an excellent start when the rain-affected first round of the Mallorca Classic resumes this morning.

Marshall needs a top five finish at Pula this weekend to retain his European Tour card and looked as though he meant business yesterday when he picked up two shots in his opening five holes.

But the event was then hit by a thunderstorm which left 60 players still to complete their round - and as one of the later starters the Dereham player now faces the prospect of having to complete 31 holes today, with his immediate future as a professional at stake.

Marshall will start the day in 11th position, and if he is still there at the end of it he will go into the weekend knowing he still has a chance of avoiding the lottery of Tour School.

England's Graeme Storm was just one shot off the pace, despite admitting he is “running on empty”.

Storm carded a three-under-par 67 in his 32nd event of the season, one behind clubhouse leaders Andrew McLardy and Gary Murphy.

Storm currently lies 16th on the Order of Merit and needs to move into the top 15 to book his place in the US Open next year.

Pre-tournament favourite Sergio Garcia admitted his game was rusty following a five-week break after carding a 68 which included three bogeys and five birdies.