Scotland’s Scott Jamieson carded an eight-under-par 64 to lie one stroke off the first-round lead at The Championship at Laguna National in Singapore.
Jamieson holed nine birdies but a bogey on the 16th – his seventh – cost him a share of the lead alongside Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat, who shot a blemish-free 63.
Jamieson atoned for that aberration – his only dropped shot of the opening day – by chipping in from a bunker at the 17th before ending in a four-way tie for second.
Jamieson said: “I’ve been hitting the ball well the last couple of weeks so it was nice to get a round where it all came together.
“There was just the one mistake with the three putt on 16 but it was pretty far away and pace putting is always difficult in Asia with the grain.
“It’s not what someone from Scotland is used to. But it was a great start.”
American David Lipsky, Korea’s Kim Byung-jun and Quincy Quek, of Singapore, were with him on eight under.
Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg, Chilean Filipe Aguilar, Mithun Perera, of Sri Lanka, and Thailand’s Arnond Vongvanij were a stroke further back. Alexander Levy, winner of last week’s Volvo China Open, recovered from a triple-bogey 7 on his fourth hole to post a two-under-par 70.
Preferred lies were in operation on the fairways and scoring conditions proved good, but a delay at the start of play due to a thunder storm meant the first round could not be completed.
Eighteen players, the best performing of whom was India’s Rahil Gangjee on five under after 15, were left to finish off today.
Ralston’s Greg Paxton earned £500 for heading the 19 qualifiers from the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship Scottish eliminator over the Lansdowne course, Blairgowrie yesterday.
Paxton was the only man to beat par, returning a one-under 71 after a flying start which saw him eagle the par-5 first and birdie the sixth.
He dropped shots at the seventh and 10th and then parred the rest to win the qualifier by a single shot from Andrew Crerar (Panmure), Scott Catlin (Greenburn) and Andrew Fullen (Largs) who earned £250 each.
Aberdeen-born student golfer Gemma Dryburgh has won the Sue Bower Award at Tulane University, New Orleans.
The award is given annually to the Tulane women’s golfer who exemplifies dedication to the game of golf and academic excellence.
It is the second year in a row that Gemma has won the award.
The award was originally given to Sue Bowyer, the former Tulane University women’s golf coach.