Ireland’s Stephen Browne shot a flawless opening round to fire himself into early contention after the first day of the TCL Classic in the Chinese resort of Hainan Island.
Browne opened with birdies on the first and the second before shooting two more on the seventh and ninth to cover the front nine in 32.
He continued to make strides with a three on the par four 12th before an eagle on the 16th and two more pars ensured a 65 and share of seventh place on seven-under-par, three behind clubhouse leaders and new course-record holders Edward Loar of the US and local favourite Wen-Chong Liang.
Paul McGinley opened with a 69 despite a shocking start which saw bogies on the second and third. A birdie on the seventh and four in the last five holes rectified that for the Dubliner.
David Howell was relishing life among the pacesetters after an eight-under-par 64 on a day when the course record was bettered by two golfers.
Liang and Loar both hit 10-under-par 62s, giving them a one-shot advantage over South African Warren Abery, Joakim Haeggman of Sweden, and Australia’s Andrew Buckle, with Howell a further shot back.
Howell - who heads the European Order of Merit - stands alone in fifth place, one shot ahead of defending champion Paul Casey, Browne and Angel Canete of Argentina following a day of low scoring.
"It is nice playing in a tournament when you are one of the better players," said Howell. "There are a lot of good players here and any win on the tour is very difficult, but I did say to my caddie, Mick, that this is the kind of tournament I should be contending in.
"You can never guarantee it, but I am pleased with my start and if I am going to have the career I want, this is the sort of tournament I will be looking to win. But that is easier said than done."
With the wind rarely rising beyond a light breeze, scoring conditions at the course on the South China Sea coast were at their optimum as an unlikely 106 players out of the 155-man field broke par in the opening round.
Howell teed off at lunchtime, just as Casey and Abery were completing their rounds.
But the 30-year-old refused to be overawed by the nature of the scoring in the day’s early play.
"I was not too concerned with the conditions, but it does put more pressure on when you see 10 under on the board," said Howell. "You know if you shoot 72 you are almost out of the game straight away.
"That is why I was pleased to get off to a fast start. I suppose I would have been more stressed a few years ago but I know what to expect nowadays after 10 years on Tour and the times of getting stressed on what is leading on Thursday morning are long gone."
The surprise of the day was Liang’s course-record, the Chinese golfer joining American Loar at the top of the leader board after the first day’s play.
The 28-year-old was paired up with Englishman Nick Dougherty, who finished the day with a six-under-par round of 66, and Liang paid tribute to his playing partner.
"I feel very honoured to play with such a world-class player as Nick Dougherty and he inspired me as we went around," Liang said. "After he double bogeyed (the fifth) he still played aggressively.
"The positive attitude he had taught me a lot. It showed that we all make mistakes, but watching him bounce back helped me.
"It is a very precious experience for Chinese players to play with such world-class players. It is something I will never forget."
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