Scott Jamieson shot a blemish-free 65 to set the clubhouse target on the opening day of the M2M Russian Open.
The 31 year old, beginning his round at the tenth tee, carded two birdies in his opening four holes on the way to reaching the turn in 34.
The Scot began his back nine in style, making four gains in a row before safely parring the final five holes to finish the day on six under par.
Jamieson was pleased to finish his round with a par at the ninth. He said: “The birdie putt at nine was looking good but it was a relief to see it settle just a foot from the hole. It’s a tough hole today, playing into the wind with a back pin so three is a good score there.
“It’s probably a typical (Jack) Nicklaus course, there’s a bit of room off the tee but you have to be really careful with your approach shots to the greens.
“If you get slightly out of position it can get really tough so I’m trying to follow Jack’s philosophy of middle of the green and take it from there.
“I feel you have to play away from the flags sometimes, that’s the way to approach it, but it’s quite an unnatural thing to do.
“It’s flawless, probably the best conditions we’ve seen all year. There’s hardly a blade of grass out of place anywhere across the whole estate so it’s a pleasure to come and play.”
Jamieson sits one stroke clear of Lee Slattery, who mixed six birdies with a bogey for an opening 66.
The Englishman, also starting on the back nine, recovered from dropping a shot at the 15th by firing six birdies in his next 12 holes.
Slattery did not feel he played his best golf on Thursday but he was satisfied with his score.
He said: “Over the last couple of weeks I’ve slightly improved as I’ve gone along. I wouldn’t say I played my best today but I hit the ball pretty straight, took my chances well and 66 was a fair score."
Defending champion David Horsey is another shot further back on four under alongside Panuphol Pittayarat, Thitiphun Chuayprakong, Craig Lee and Keith Horne.
Horsey picked up a shot at the 13th, his fourth hole, before back-to-back birdies at the 17th and 18th took him to the turn in 33.
The four-time European Tour winner bogeyed the short second but he bounced back immediately, making gains at the third, fourth and sixth holes before another dropped shot at the eighth saw him finish with a 67.
“I played nicely out there," said Horsey. "I drove it pretty well, which is pretty easy to do around here - it’s pretty much a second shot golf course where you have to get your approaches in close.
"You can also short-side yourself and make some silly mistakes but fortunately I only managed to do that once today. I left myself with a tough up and down on the second but all in all I’m pleased with the start."
