The final event of the UK swing on the European Tour brought players back to the storied four-time Ryder Cup venue for the first time in 12 years and the impressive field was greeted by very heavy rain as the day progressed, with play suspended due to flooding in the early afternoon.

But Walters made the most of the early conditions, carding six birdies and an eagle to lead the way at eight-under, three shots clear Frenchman Benjamin Hebert, Swede Joel Sjöholm, Zimbabwean Scott Vincent and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger.

Scotland's Calum Hill also moved to five-under after 16 holes before the hooter sounded to bring the players off.

After a delay of just over four hours, play resumed at 6.15pm local time.

There were emotional scenes as Walters kept his card by finishing second at last season's Portugal Masters and he entered this week at 156th on the Race to Dubai Rankings, but that does not tell the whole story.

He has missed the cut by just a single shot in three of his last four events on the UK swing, but finally saw the pendulum swing his way in the English Midlands.

The 39-year-old birdied the second, third, sixth and ninth to turn in 32 but he had Wiesberger alongside him after the seven-time European Tour winner picked up shots on the third, fourth, sixth and seventh.

The duo continued to go blow for blow as Wiesberger birdied the 11th and 13th, with Walters making gains on the same holes.

Walters found the rough to the side of the green at the par-five 15th but produced an exquisite pitch over a bunker that found the cup for an eagle, with a Wiesberger bogey on the last after finding the sand handing him a three-shot advantage.

The course record of 63 looked under serious threat but, as the heavens opened, Walters will have been pleased to get in with three closing pars.

- ANA