Andrea Pavan and Lu Wei-chih will take a one shot lead into the second round of the UBS Hong Kong Open but they will be looking over their shoulders with Major champion Justin Rose among those trying to chase them down.
The leading duo shot a pair of 64s in the morning to set the early pace but four birdies on the back nine from World Number Seven Rose moved him to within a shot of top spot alongside Jeev Milkha Singh and CT Pan.
The tournament at Hong Kong Golf Club is the last of the regular season before the Final Series and the last chance for those players attempting to keep hold of their playing privileges to rack up those vital points.
Pavan came into the week 191st in the Race to Dubai and needing to finish second or better to avoid heading to the Qualifying School to try and get his card.
An opening six under par 64 not only gave the 26 year old a share of the lead alongside Lu but also gave his chances of a top two finish a massive boost, although the Italian was not yet contemplating a perfectly timed win.
"This year has been a struggle to say the least," he said. "I'm just trying to big deep and really look forward to every week. Obviously this is the last of the year, and then I'm looking to go to Q-School. So it's all about just giving myself chances.
"I'm just really trying to get my game in better shape. It's good on the range. I still feel like I'm lacking a bit of confidence. Today I've managed to play very well for about 15 holes and then I had the occasional bad shot. So today I got away with it a couple times.
It's all about just waiting. I know I have what it takes. It's been tough last year and this year, but it's all a learning curve and I really hope I can make the next step soon - Andrea Pavan
Pavan birdied the second but gave the shot straight back on the next before making more gains on the fifth and seventh. A birdie on the 13th then kicked off an impressive finish which yielded four birdies in the final six holes.
Lu, who came close to retirement three years ago after undergoing brain surgery, also fired an opening 64 thanks to eight birdies and two bogeys in Fanling.
He got off to a disappointing start with a bogey on the par five third but he responded brilliantly with birdies on the fourth, fifth and sixth to reach the turn in 32.
Further gains followed at the tenth, 11th and 13th and when the 36 year old holed a curling 20 foot putt on the 15th, he held the outright lead. But he missed a ten footer for a second bogey of the day on the 16th before getting back to six under on his penultimate hole.
"Today, the first three holes, I was not feeling very focused on the golf course," he said. "And then after the third hole bogey, I just told myself that I can't do this because if I don't try to get back to my form, it might not be a good round.
"Fortunately, starting on number four, I birdied four, five and six, and I started feeling much better and getting into the flow. Then the back nine, I felt very comfortable.
"Today is a really good round for me."
Rose, fifth in the Race to Dubai, turned in 33 after a single birdie on the fourth but further gains followed on the tenth, 13th, 14th and 17th as he piled on the pressure on the way home.
Singh is another player in need of a big week to keep his card as he requires a top three finish and he registered seven birdies and two bogeys, including one on the last, to get his week off to a good start.
Lu's countryman CT Pan was also a shot behind the leaders on five under after recording six birdies and a single bogey in an opening 65.
SSP Chawrasia, Oliver Fisher and Kevin Phelan were then all on four under as they look to secure a card for next season.
Chawrasia came into the week 111th in the Race to Dubai with Phelan 123rd and Fisher on the right side of the line at 105th but not quite out of danger yet.
Lucas Bjerregaard, Rahil Gangjee and Graeme McDowell were also in the group at four under.
Matthew Fitzpatrick was three behind the leaders in his first appearance since winning his maiden title at the British Masters supported by Sky Sports, as was his main rival for the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award Anirban Lahiri.
Prom Meesawat, sitting right on the bubble to secure his card at 110th in the Race to Dubai, was also in that group alongside Ian Poulter, who was only playing after Rich Beem gave up his invitation to accommodate the Englishman. Poulter needed to play here to register the 13 appearances required to keep his European Tour membership.
World Number 20 Patrick Reed was then at two under with big-hitting countryman and World Number Eight Dustin Johnson a further shot back.
