Thailand's Chapchai Nirat produced a stunning opening round 11-under-par 61 to open up a three-shot lead over Argentina's Rafael Echenique at the TCL Classic on Hainan Island, China, today.
Nirat, who missed the cut at last week's Singapore Masters despite shooting a level par 144, picked up 11 birdies on his way around the Yalong Bay Golf Club course to beat China's Liang Wenchong's opening round 62 last year and claim the course record.
Taiwan's Lu Weh Teh, New Zealand's Richard Lee and South Africa's Keith Horne are a further shot adrift, with England's Lee Westwood at six-under.
The Irish are led by Damien McGrane on three-under-par, after a 69 that saw just the one bogey on the seventh. One behind him is Michael Hoey but the Belfast golfer could only manage a 70 despite six birdies in his opening round.
David Higgins and Paul McGinley are both level-par.
McGinley, the 2005 runner-up, carded a disappointing 72 which included four bogeys. The Ryder Cup star, began on the back nine and went out in 37, but improved slightly on the way back, picking up three birdies to go with two bogeys.
"I played really poorly, I have no excuse. I did well to shoot a 72," he said afterwards. "It was just inconsistent play, I hit a lot of bad shots. I didn't have any control of the golf ball all day.
"I've got to shoot a good score to get back into the tournament, I need to spend some time on the range and find out what I'm doing wrong because I'm not going to shoot that low score with the way I played today. But tomorrow's another day."
After shooting the lowest score of his career Nirat said: "I am very happy with the round. I drove well and I was bogey free.
"I played here last year so I am familiar with the course, which helps when driving and putting. There is a lot more rough this year but I made sure I hit straight."
Echenique said: "This is my first time at this course and my first year on the European Tour. The course is beautiful. I heard that last year it was easier, there was less rough. Today I played really good - I started driving perfectly and my putting was excellent."
Westwood started on the 10th and made an ideal start with a birdie. A bogey at the 15th was quickly cancelled out by a birdie at the next as the Worksop-born golfer reached the turn in 33.
The 33-year-old collected two early birdies on the front nine, at the second and the fourth, before three-putting the fifth.
Westwood recovered and carded birdies at the seventh and ninth to come home in 33.
"I was pretty pleased with the way I played tee to green; I hit a couple of good shots. I got a bit lucky at the second but 66 was about the worst it could have been," said Westwood.
England's Oliver Fisher finished tied for 10th on five-under, a shot clear of compatriots Simon Griffiths, Sam Little and Barry Lane and Wales' Mark Pilkington.
Liverpool's Nick Dougherty carded a three under par 69 alongside last week's Singapore Open champion Liang after collecting three birdies on the back nine after making the turn on par.
Ryder Cup winning captain Ian Woosnam, who missed the cut at the 2005 event in Sanya, carded a level par 72.
