Shiv Kapur shot six successive birdies to set the standard in the Czech Open 2010 at the Prosper Resort in Čeladná.
The 28 year old Indian made his burst from the second to seventh holes to establish an early lead and, although he began the back nine with two bogeys in a row, birdies on the 16th and 18th helped him card a six under par 66.
His nearest challengers were Ireland's Peter Lawrie and Spaniard José Manuel Lara, who were three under par after 14 and 12 holes respectively.
Welshman Phillip Price and English pair Michael Hoey and Miles Tunnicliff, who is without a top 10 finish since the first tournament of the year, carded opening round 70s to sit four shots off the lead.
It was slightly harder work for those with Ryder Cup ambitions on their return from the USPGA Championship in Wisconsin.
Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiménez, eighth on the points table and beginning his round on the 10th hole, mixed five birdies with four bogeys to be one under par after 16 holes on the course he co-designed.
England's Ross McGowan, 11th in the standings and needing a top four finish to move into an automatic spot, started with a double bogey seven at the long 10th, but came back with birdies on the 14th, 16th, first and sixth - to go with a bogey on the par four 18th - to move to one under par after 17.
Oliver Wilson and Simon Dyson were also one under after 15 and 16 holes respectively, with the former shooting five birdies to accompany a bouble bogey and two bogeys.
Dyson would move into an automatic qualifying spot with victory on Sunday, while Wilson needs a big week just to give himself a chance of climbing into the top nine at next week's race-ending Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
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