Honey Baisoya led a strong home charge on day one of the Hero Indian Open, firing a sensational 66 to sit in second place.
Morning starter Baisoya had set the early clubhouse target at six under after making eight birdies and a double bogey, before a late flurry of birdies saw Germany's Yannik Paul go one shot better.
Baisoya was not the only Indian player to make a big impression on Thursday, with Shubhankar Sharma and Angad Cheema posting 68s to sit in a tie for fourth.
Last year's Professional Golf Tour of India Order of Merit winner Manu Gandas was one of three more Indian players in the top ten.
Baisoya is making just his seventh DP World Tour start this week but looked at home on the big stage as he safely parred the opening three holes before reeling off a hat-trick of gains from the fourth.
Three more birdies at the eighth, ninth and tenth catapulted the 26-year-old to the top of the leaderboard and he got another on the 13th to climb to seven under.
After surrendering a double bogey at the 14th, Baisoya bounced back with a birdie on the 17th to finish the day on six under.
Baisoya was thrilled with his first-round performance, saying: "I played really well today.
"I had about 260 yards on the last and I wanted to finish with a birdie, but it’s okay, I played a good hole.
“I was thinking about the course record after about six holes because I was three under and then made birdie at the eighth and ninth so yes, it was in my mind that I needed to break the record. I had a bad shot on the 14th.
“The Indian Open means a lot for the Indians and we played a lot of tournaments here. They're used to this course and it means a lot to them."
Sharma, who carded six birdies and two bogeys in his 68 on Thursday, hailed the strength of Indian golf.
He said: "I've already said before, the Indian Open is very special to all of us, we really look forward to it and it’s great that it's back, especially on a beautiful course like this. I don't think I've ever seen it better than what it is right now.
“I guess we just have a lot of depth now (in India), we have a lot of good players now. It's not an easy course, you have to hit it pretty well round here. It's not like all the players on the leaderboard play here, it just shows the growth of Indian golf. It's a testament to how good Indian golf is."
