Matthew Baldwin opened with a seven-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Volvo China Open.
The 26-year-old Englishman enjoyed a bogey-free, seven-birdie round in Tianjin on Thursday to lead by one over compatriot Gary Boyd, Dutchman Joost Luiten, Australian Scott Strange, France's Jean-Baptiste Gonnet and Swede Fredrik Andersson-Hed.
Baldwin picked up shots on the first, fifth and seventh before three in a row on nine, 10 and 11. He then birdied the 17th to separate himself from the pack.
"It was very good today so I am happy with that," said Baldwin, who is chasing his first win on the European Tour.
"I just tried to keep everything as simple as I could. My caddie and I set out this morning with a game play of trying to make 18 pars and take our chances when they came, and it turned out to be one of those days where there were a lot of chances and I managed to take a few of them."
Boyd, also hunting a maiden European Tour win, had an eagle on the 12th and five birdies, although he bogeyed the sixth to cost himself a share of the lead.
"I am usually a very slow starter but there have been encouraging signs recently," he told europeantour.com.
"I went back to see my old coach a few weeks ago to see what thoughts he had on the state of my game and I have done some good practice at home on the back of that.
"Then to come out to Asia and play well last week and make a good start this week is good."
Paul Casey opend with a four-under-par 68 to lie three shots off the pace, tied with, among others, Colin Montgomerie.
Ian Poulter and Peter Hanson, fresh off top-10 showings at the Masters, were on one under par.
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