DORSET'S Lee James was pleased with a level-par return to the European Tour after an enforced four-week lay-off.

The 35-year-old Parkstone-based professional carded a first-round 72 for a share of 30th place in the Madeira Islands Open today.

James had not played since failing to make the cut in Indonesia last month due to string of lucrative co-sanctioned events that limited the number of European entries.

"My ball-striking has only been about 50 per cent, so I was fairly happy to walk off the course with a level-par round," said James.

But the former British Ama-teur champion refused to blame the inactivity for any rustiness on a wet and windy first day at the Santo da Serra course.

"I was hitting the ball well before I left home so there are no excuses. For some reason I have struggled off the tee since I arrived on Monday.

"Luckily I have managed to salvage a decent score today with some solid chipping and by sinking a few key putts."

James's wayward driving was evident as early as the opening hole when he mishit his tee shot.

"The first hole should have been a three and an eight iron, but I ended up hitting a five for my second shot after completely messing up my tee shot," explained James, who chalked up a bogey five.

James retrieved his dropped shot with a birdie four at the 410-yard fifth after his seven-iron approach shot left him a simple four-foot putt.

But James found the trees on the left at the next hole and slipped back to one-over-par.

Birdies at the eighth and 10th holes, however, saw James move into red figures for the first time and stake a share of 17th place.

"I hit a nine iron to within two feet for a birdie two on the eighth and nearly drove the green on the 395-yard 10th to set up another birdie," he added.

But James failed to make any further progress up the leader board with a run of seven consecutive pars.

His only other blemish came at the final hole after failing to find the putting surface with his second shot and leaving a chip too far short to salvage par.

Fellow Dorset professional Gary Emerson, meanwhile, failed to take advantage of a rare appearance on the European Tour this year with an opening five-over-par 77.

Wimborne-based Emerson, who lost his full playing privileges in November, chalked up two double bogeys, four bogeys, and three birdies.

Overnight leader was German Sven Struver who carded a six-under-par 66 for a one shot advantage over Hennie Otto from South Africa.