Scott Jamieson made a strong start to The Championship at Laguna National to lie just one shot behind first round clubhouse leader Panuphol Pittayarat in Singapore.
After the tournament start was delayed for an hour due to lightning, the 21 year old Thai Pittayarat got off to a flyer with nine birdies in a flawless 63.
At nine under par the World Number 451, who came into the event on the back of four missed cuts on the co-sanctioning Asian Tour, led by one from Jamieson and American David Lipsky.
Jamieson also had nine birdies in his round, but a dropped shot at the 16th – his seventh – cost him a share of top spot.
The highlight of the Scot’s round came at the daunting par three 17th, where he chipped in from the bunker for an unlikely gain.
“I’ve been hitting the ball well the last couple of weeks, so it was nice to get a round where it all came together,” said Jamieson, whose maiden European Tour title came at last year’s Nelson Mandela Championship.
“There was just the one mistake with the three-putt on 16, but it was pretty far away and pace putting is always difficult in Asia with the grain. It’s not what someone from Scotland is used to.
“There’s not much wind out there and apparently there has been a drought here so there is not much rough either. You can still control the ball when you don’t hit the fairway, so I think everyone will have a lot of looks at birdies; the greens a rolling perfectly too.
“I’ve been hitting the ball really well since we came out to Asia but today was the first time I really capitalised on that.
“Golfers strive for perfection so it is always going to feel like you left something out there, but I holed some nice putts so I’m pleased.”
Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello sat fourth in the clubhouse after a six under par 66, with Mithun Perera and Quincy Quek on the same mark out on the course.
Defending champion Brett Rumford and France’s Alex Levy, a winner in China last week, both signed for two under par rounds of 70.
