Germany's Max Kieffer claimed a share of the first round lead as the M2M Russian Open began at Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club.
The 24 year old, who lost a record-equalling nine-hole sudden-death play-off to Raphael Jacquelin for last season's Open de España during an impressive rookie campaign, fired four birdies during an inward 32.
Having started on the tenth and carded three birdies against two bogeys on the way out, Kieffer's round of 67 saw him join South Africans Oliver Bekker and Louis de Jager, India's Gaganjeet Bhullar, Swede Rikard Karlberg, Belgian Thomas Pieters and Australian Jack Wilson on five under par.
“It’s a really fun course so I enjoyed the round a lot,” said Kieffer.
“It’s playing quite long because it’s soft, but that also means you can go at pins a bit more, and I had a lot of opportunities today.
“It’s very scorable. I only had one bad shot, on the 11th, but apart from that everything was great.
“It’s not often you have rounds where you feel like every part of your game is working well, but that’s how it was today.
“There’s still a long way to go, but this is a good start. It’s not such a strong field so my expectations are higher than normal this week, but I’ve still got to play well and take it shot by shot.”
The 22 year old Qualifying School graduate Pieters had six birdies and a solitary bogey in his round and, like Kieffer, enjoyed the soft conditions.
“My driving was excellent today,” said Pieters, whose best result on The European Tour also came as a runner-up at the Open de España, where he was second to Miguel Angel Jimenez earlier this season.
“I’ve been struggling with it recently so I’ve been working hard with a new coach to change a couple of things.
“The course is great – the fairways are in excellent condition and the greens are rolling well.
“Every week is a chance to win and do well, but this is may be a better opportunity than most.”
Karlberg was the only one of the leading seven to sign for a blemish-free card – an eagle three at the 15th the highlight of the 27 year old's day.
“I made some good saves and then holed a great eagle putt on the 15th, so that helped me move up the leaderboard and give me some momentum for the last few holes,” said Karlberg.
“I birdied the 17th and I was unlucky not to birdie 18 as well - the putt just lipped out.”
Wilson is down at 169th on this season's Challenge Tour standings after an indifferent start to 2014, but hopes his luck may have changed after two slices of good fortune from the sand.
“The sand was very nice to me today – I holed out twice from a bunker and made a really good up-and-down at the last there,” said the Australian Tour winner.
“There’s a little bit of luck there. On the 14th I slam-dunked from the greenside trap, which you never expect. But I hit a lot of good shots out there and it was nice to get a couple of breaks as well.”
Bhullar, a winner in his homeland on The Challenge Tour in 2011 and a runner-up on Indian soil at last season's Avantha Masters, was pleased with his play from tee to green.
“I hit the ball really well today,” he said. “I hit 15 greens in regulation and gave myself a lot of opportunities. I hit the ball close, so I didn’t have to do much scrambling and the birdies were all from about ten to 12 feet.”
France's Adrien Saddier, Irish pair Damien McGrane and Kevin Phelan and English trio Gary Boyd, Matthew Nixon and Sam Walker were tied for eighth after all posted three under par rounds of 69.
Scott Jamieson, fresh from a top-ten finish in his home Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open a fortnight ago, and fellow European Tour winners David Horsey and Mortem Ørum Madsen were among the afternoon starters.
