Briton Nick Dougherty shot a career-low 10-under-par 62 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the $2 million Malaysian Open on Thursday.
Dougherty fired seven straight birdies in his 10-birdie round to lead English compatriot Simon Dyson and Australian Marcus Fraser, who both shot eight-under-par 64s.
South Africa's Keith Horne, Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen, Malaysian Danny Chia and Argentina's Daniel Vancsik were tied for fourth a further stroke behind.
"It was a great start to the tournament, it's my lowest round on Tour which is always nice," said Dougherty, whose maiden European Tour victory was in Singapore in 2005.
"I played well, I drove the ball well, I putted really well. All in all it was a superb round of golf."
The Malaysian Open is the fifth leg of the Asian Tour and is co-sanctioned by the European Tour.
Low scores were the order of the day with 98 golfers shooting under par.
Dougherty expects a winning score of 18 under or better at the Kota Permai Golf Club and hopes to bag his third Tour title.
"Inevitably, I am not going to shoot three more 10 under pars but certainly I am in a good position," he said.
New Zealand's Mark Brown, aiming for a third straight title after wins at the SAIL Open and Johnnie Walker Classic, opened with a six-under 66 to lie eighth with eight other golfers.
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