American Sihwan Kim roared out of the gates at the inaugural International Series Thailand on Thursday, breaking the course record to seize the first round lead with a 10-under-par 62.
Thai player Phachara Khongwatmai shot 63, with compatriot Itthipat Buranatanyarat, Japan's Ryou Hisatsune, Finnish Janne Kaske, and South Koreans Bio Kim and Joohyung Kim all scoring 64 to stay in touch at the Black Mountain course at the seaside resort of Hua Hin.
The event is the first in the controversial Saudi-backed International Series on the Asian Tour, and carries a juicy $1.5 million purse.
After a wobbly start, Kim -- who finished second at last week's Royal's Cup tournament, also in Thailand -- kickstarted his round with an eagle just before the turn and romped home with six birdies and another eagle.
"I just caught fire for some reason, and I kind of got it going," the 33-year-old said.
"Whatever is done is done. I just plan to play my best this week."
Kim, who opened with a birdie on the 10th, matched the lowest score over nine holes on the Asian Tour with an eight-under-par 28.
Elsewhere, Phachara got round without dropping a shot, carding nine birdies in the town where he made global headlines in 2013 after winning the Singha Hua Hin Open as a 14-year-old amateur.
"It was such a great moment for me when all of my game was good," he said.
A minute's silence was observed in memory of former Asia Tour number one and chairman Kyi Hla Han, who died in February, with players wearing green ribbons in his honour.
SCORES:
62 - Sihwan Kim (USA)
63 - Phachara Khongwatmai (THA)
64 - Itthipat Buranatanyarat (THA), Ryou Hisatsune (JPN), Bio Kim (KOR), Joohyung Kim (KOR), Janne Kaske (FIN)
65 - Prom Meesawat (THA), Scott Vincent (ZIM), Rory Hie (INA), Ben Campbell (NZL), Viraj Madappa (IND), Yuto Katsuragawa (JPN), Sungyeol Kwon (KOR), Doyeob Mun (KOR), Karandeep Kochhar (IND)
66 - Ben Leong (MAS), Denzel Ieremia (NZL), Masanori Kobayashi (JPN), Chanat Sakulpolphaisan (THA), Natipong Srithong (THA), Todd Baek (USA), Todd Sinnott (AUS)
67 - Poom Saksansin (THA), Sebastian Soderberg (SWE), Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND), Christoffer Baumann (SWE), Mathiam Keyser (RSA), Rashid Khan (IND), Aman Raj (IND), Tirawat Kaewsiribandit (THA), Dodge Kemmer (USA), Sirapob Yapala (am, THA), Wade Ormsby (AUS), Honey Baisoya (IND), Ian Snyman (RSA), Siddikur Rahman (BAN)
68 - Angelo Que (PHI), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Ryosuke Kinoshita (JPN), Zach Bauchou (USA), Khalin Joshi (IND), Mardan Mamat (SIN), Ajeetesh Sandhu (IND), Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA), Kwanchai Tannin (THA), John Catlin (USA), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Nicholas Fung (MAS), Taehee Lee (KOR), Steve Lewton (ENG), Chang Wei-lun (TPE), Berry Henson (USA), Josh Younger (AUS), Scott Strange (AUS), Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij (THA)
69 - Cory Crawford (AUS), Denwit Boriboonsub (THA), Jake Higginbottom (AUS), Hung Chien-yao (TPE), Scott Hend (AUS), Miguel Carballo (ARG), Seungsu Han (USA), Prayad Marksaeng (THA), Jack Harrison (ENG), Ben Jones (ENG), Donlaphatchai Niyomchon (THA), Settee Prakongvech (THA), Andrew Dodt (AUS), Paul Peterson (USA), Suradit Yongcharoenchai (THA), Thaworn Wiratchant (THA), Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA), Neil Schietekat (RSA), Jaco Ahlers (RSA), Kevin Phelan (IRL), Kosuke Hamamoto (THA), Pannakorn Uthaipas (THA), Jarin Todd (USA), Natchapol Srinoon (THA), Hein Sithu (MYN), Taehoon Ok (KOR)
70 - Sangchai Kaewcharoen (THA), Chanachok Dejpiratanamongkol (THA), Ratchanon Chantananuwat (am, THA), Nitithorn Thippong (THA), S. Chikkarangappa (IND), Naoki Sekito (JPN), Kasidit Lepkurte (THA), Pawin Ingkhapradit (THA), Charng-Tai Sudsom (THA), Richard T. Lee (CAN), Sarit Suwannarut (THA), Atiruj Winaicharoenchai (THA), Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA), Seung Park (KOR), Kevin Yuan (AUS), Sattaya Supupramai (THA)
71 - Andrew Martin (AUS), Benjamin Follett-Smith (ZIM), William Harrold (ENG), Bjorn Hellgren (SWE), Ren Yonezawa (JPN), Shiv Kapur (IND), Chan Shih-chang (TPE), Mitchell Slorach (SIN), Tanapat Pichaikool (THA), Inhoi Hur (KOR), Poom Pattaropong (THA), Vanchai Luangnitikul (THA)
72 - Ben Eccles (AUS), Lu Wei-chih (TPE), Aadil Bedi (IND), Suttijet Kooratanapisan (THA), S.S.P. Chawrasia (IND), Danthai Boonma (THA), Abdul Hadi (SIN), Nirun Sae-Ueng (THA), Poosit Supupramai (THA), Micah Lauren Shin (USA), Udayan Mane (IND)
73 - Pongsapak Laopakdee (am, THA), KK Limbhasut (THA), Keith Horne (RSA), Travis Smyth (AUS), Chapchai Nirat (THA), Cole Madey (USA), Piya Sawangarunporn (THA), Nattapong Putta (THA), Dechawat Phetprayoon (THA)
74 - Daniel Fox (AUS), Simon Yates (SCO), Veer Ahlawat (IND), Liu Yan-wei (CHN), Bongsub Kim (KOR)
75 - Yosuke Asaji (JPN), Woohyun Kim (KOR)
76 - Rahil Gangjee (IND), Will Heffernan (AUS), Shinichi Mizuno (JPN), Junghwan Lee (KOR)
77 - Witchayapat Sinsrang (THA)
78 - Lionel Weber (FRA)
79 - Danny Masrin (INA)