Callum Shinkwin turned in 30 to set a blistering pace early on day one of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
The Englishman, who finished 13th on the Challenge Tour last term to earn his playing privileges, was playing in just his tenth European Tour event, but a run of four birdies from the 15th at Doha Golf Club moved him out ahead of his more experienced rivals.
The 22 year old was in the first group to tee off from the tenth and opened with a birdie before adding another gain on the 13th. He then really found his stride as those four shots picked up on the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th vaulted him to six under and a two-shot lead.
Pablo Larrazábal was at four under after the Spaniard made the turn in 32. Larrazábal has won on the Desert Swing before, in the 2014 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, and came into this week after finishing tied 26th at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
The 32 year old opened with a pair of birdies but then recorded five straight pars before two more gains on the eighth and ninth moved him up to second.
South African George Coetzee was also two shots back after a fast start with birdies on the first, fourth, sixth and seventh.
There was then a group of six players at three under including renowned January specialist Louis Oosthuizen, who is looking to win his first event of the calendar year for the fifth time in the last six seasons.
He had birdies on the tenth, 11th and 16th to sit alongside Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Tommy Fleetwood, Ricardo Gouveia, Thongchai Jaidee and Clarke Lutton.
