Australian Nick O’Hern shot a course record eight-under par 64 to take a one shot lead on the opening day of the Singapore Masters, then later admitted to being surprised at his achievement.
"I had not been hitting the ball too well in practice. In fact, I was awful yesterday, but somehow things fell into place for me on the course today," said the left-hander whose eagle two at the 340-yard par four 12th was the highlight of the round.
The 31-year-old leads Frenchman Christophe Pottier (65) in second, who had equalled the old course record earlier in the day, while Spain’s Carlos Rodiles is a further shot back in third after today’s 66.
O’Hern completed the back nine first before going on the rampage with a barrage of birdies on the front side. A birdie at the first, his 10th, was followed by five more in the last six holes to return in just 30 shots.
There were mixed fortunes for two former world number one golfers, Ian Woosnam and Nick Faldo, competing at the Laguna National Golf and Country Club.
With two bogeys and a solitary birdie on the card, Woosnam struggled to get to grips with a new set of clubs during his one-over 73.
"I’m a bit rusty. I am using a new set of clubs, so I still need to get used to the grips. I had a lot of fliers out of the rough and that doesn’t usually happen to me," said the Welshman.
Faldo on the other hand carded no less than six birdies and with just two dropped shots the six-times major winner is just four shots off the pace after today’s 68.
Additional reporting by PA