A recent addition to the European Tour topped the leaderboard at the Asian Open in Taiwan yesterday at the Westin Resort Ta Shee.
Sebastien Delagrange, a graduate of Europe's Challenge Tour, fired a 4-under par 68.
England's Gary Clark -- also a Challenge Tour graduate -- and Jamie Spence, along with Zimbabwe's Tony Johnstone, were one shot behind after the first day at the US$1.5 million event.
Spaniards Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez were a shot further back, with Englishmen Gary Evans and Barry Lane and New Zealander Stephen Scahill.
Taiwan's top finishers were Hsieh Min-nan (
Delagrange coped best with the fast greens and gusty winds at Ta Shee and would have taken a bigger lead if he had not bogied the final two holes.
He began his round on the back nine and made the turn for a 4-under-par 32, with just 11 putts.
On the inward stretch he was 6-under with three holes to play, but a number of wayward drives cost him on the eighth and ninth holes.
After his round, the 27-year-old Delagrange said, "The greens are very fast and when you are putting downhill it is very difficult.
"Even if you are 2m from the hole you can go up to 4m past. The pin positions are very tough today, you must play for the middle of the green and not leave yourself with a long putt."
Delagrange won two events on the Challenge Tour this year, the Saint Omar Open and the Nykreddit Danish Open.
He made the cut at a regular European Tour event only once this year.
"I played well today especially as I only had two hours sleep last night," Delagrange said.
"It is also pleasing because this is the first time that I have played in Asia."
Vijay Singh garnered a useful 71, three off the pace, while New Zealand's Michael Campbell finished level and England's Nick Faldo carded a 73.
"I am happy with 71. It's a good start, especially as conditions were so tricky ... It was really windy at times," said Singh.
Compared with the scrum which attended Tiger Woods' appearance two years ago there were few fans for the first round.
Small galleries followed the big names and a bigger attendance is expected over the weekend.
The tournament is being televised around the world and on regional sports broadcasters such as the Golf Channel, Sky Sports and Star Sports.
The Asian Open, the penultimate tournament on the Asian PGA Tour, is a co-sanctioned event and also the first stop on next year's European Tour schedule.
Tickets for today's play are priced at NT$400.
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