Taipei: Suteepat Prateeptienchai's fondness for Taiwan was evident once more yesterday when he blasted an eight-under-par 64 to take the lead after the first-round of the Yeangder TPC.
An eagle, seven birdies and one dropped shot at Linkou International Golf & Country Club, in Taipei, saw him finish the day ahead of second-placed Yuvraj Singh Sandhu from India and Taiwan's Wang Wei-hsuan, both in with 65s.
Lu Wei-chih from Taiwan and Jordan Zunic from Australia are next best placed with 66s.
Suteepat won the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open last year for his first win on the Asian Tour, and was second in that event the year before, when it was part of the Asian Development Tour (ADT) -- a result that helped him finish first on the ADT Order of Merit.
And after a solid season so far on the Asian Tour -- he is currently 41st on the Asian Tour merit list -- his latest visit to Taiwan could be timely.
"I have a lot of friends here and have also been playing the local tour," said Suteepat, aged 31.
"I missed the cut here last year, so I should be able to improve on that this year."
Suteepat began on the back nine, turning in three under, following four birdies and a bogey. He then toured the second half in five under after an eagle and three birdies. He made a three on the par-five fourth where he fired in a five-iron to 12 feet.
John Catlin, who leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings, carded a 69. The American was the champion here in 2018.