Matthew Jordan produced a back-nine birdie blitz to sign for an opening 65 and share the lead with fellow Englishman Marcus Armitage after the first round of the weather-affected Porsche Singapore Classic.
After persistent rain meant no play was possible on Thursday, the first round eventually got under way on Friday morning, with the event officially being reduced to 54 holes shortly afterwards.
Morning starter Armitage set the early clubhouse target after firing an eagle, six birdies and a bogey in his 65 to get to seven under par before an impressive burst of scoring saw Jordan briefly take over at the top in the afternoon.
Having made four birdies and a bogey on the front nine, Jordan caught fire after the turn as he reeled off five birdies in a row to lead the way on eight under.
But he found the water at the par-three 17th and had to settle for a bogey there, despite going close to holing from the drop zone for what would have been a miracle par save.
Haotong Li was among the big group one shot back in a tie for third alongside Jordan Smith, Manuel Elvira, Callum Shinkwin and Adrien Saddier.
After three opening pars, Jordan made back-to-back birdies on the 4th and 5th before going agonisingly close to holing his tee-shot at the par-three 7th.
He followed that up with another birdie on the 8th but gave the shot straight back at the 9th.
The 29-year-old birdied the 10th before slotting in from 10 feet on the 11th and five feet at the 12th for a hat-trick of gains.
A sensational bunker shot on the 13th set up a tap-in birdie which earned him a share of the lead on seven under, and he made it five in a row from 12 feet on the 14th to hit the front on his own.
Jordan did well to save par after missing the 15th green, getting up and down from a tricky spot to stay out in front.
But there was nothing he could do to avoid dropping a shot on the 17th after plunging his tee-shot into the water.
He gave himself a birdie chance on the last but had to settle for a closing par and a share of the lead.
“It was enjoyable,” Jordan said. “Of course, when you shoot a score like that, it’s great.
“I hit it close, that was probably the main thing for today with these greens. If you can have some decent wedge play shots, then you can work it through the tee and access some pinch and that’s what I was able to do.
“The fact that it’s 54 holes doesn’t really change anything I do. You’ve got emphasis on having a good start, because you get behind the eight ball a bit and then you are struggling, you don’t have as much time. That was nice to do that today.”
Armitage started from the 10th tee and birdied the 10th and 13th before making an eagle on the 14th.
He then bounced back from a bogey on the 16th with four birdies in a row at the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th to get to seven under.
“I’ve had a few weeks off, so to come back and to come out the blocks firing, it’s pretty cool,” he said.
