Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri got off to a brilliant start at the European Tour's six-round Qualifying School Final Stage with a flawless five-under 65 at the par-70 Purple course and was placed second overall among the 156 starters.
The other Indian challenger in the field, SSP Chowrasia, carded one-over 71 at the same layout and he was lying tied 76th.
Denmark's Christian Gloet is in his first season of professional golf. The 24-year-old, who plied his trade on the Nordic Golf League this season, carded five birdies, an eagle and just a single dropped shot to finish six better than the par of 70 on the easier Tour Course. He was a shot clear of world number 74 Lahiri.
"I played pretty good, solid from the start," Lahiri said.
He found the putting surface 17 times in regulation in what was a tee-to-green masterclass in round one.
"I began well but didn't quite manage to keep the pace up but I'm happy. I think I struck the ball really well so I'll be looking to do the same over the next five days," he said.
"The wind picked up on the back nine but they were fantastic conditions today with the sun out and not a cloud in the sky so that is much more than we could ask for.
"I hit almost all the greens and kept the ball in play and now I'm really looking forward to playing the Stadium Course tomorrow. It's a really good golf course and I enjoy playing tracks like that so hoping for a good four or five days now."
Lahiri, starting on the 10th, opened birdie-birdie and added a third one on 13th to be three-under after four holes. He had further birdies on 18th and then after seven pars, he found his fifth birdie on the day on the seventh on the front nine.
