Bryson DeChambeau topped a tightly packed field after day one of the Porsche European Open.
The American fired a six under 66 in his opening round at Green Eagle Golf Courses to take a one-shot lead into the second day.
DeChambeau recorded his seventh birdie of the round on the par five ninth – his last hole – to move one shot clear of Germany’s Benedict Staben and French trio Mike Lorenzo-Vera, Joël Stalter and Romain Wattel, while 40 players are within four strokes of the lead.
“It was fun to get out there and shoot a good score on the European Tour,” DeChambeau said.
“I haven’t done that yet out here so I’m very pleased with it and ready to get after it tomorrow.
“It’s been great this week, I love it here. The food’s fantastic, the people are great and the golf course is beautiful.”
DeChambeau reached the turn at four under after gains at the 11th, 15th, 17th and 18th.
His sole blemish of the day came with a bogey on the par four third but he responded immediately with back-to-back birdies before he produced a sublime shot from behind a tree on the ninth to leave him a short putt for birdie.
Amateurs Viktor Hovland and Allen John are among nine players on four under.
Norwegian Hovland started with three birdies in his first nine holes and after reeling off eight straight pars on the back nine, he picked up a further shot on the 18th, while German John had five birdies in his first nine holes and added another on the eighth.
They join Dane Lasse Jensen, Matthias Schwab of Austria, England’s Oliver Fisher and Steven Brown, Australian duo Andrew Dodt and Scott Hend and Wales’ Bradley Dredge in a group two shots off the lead.
World Number 15 Paul Casey is in a large group on three under that includes last year’s runner-up Alex Levy and 17 year old Danish amateur Nicolai Højgaard, while defending champion Jordan Smith is one under par.
Masters champions Patrick Reed is four shots off the lead after closing with back-to-back birdies to get to two under, the same tally as Charl Schwartzel.
