Noh on course for Scotland

Noh: share of the lead in Malaysia

First-round leaderboard:
S-Y Noh (Kor) -6
D Chia (Mal) -6
H Fujita (Jpn) -5
E Chun (Kor) -5
W Ashun (Chn) -3
T Wiratchant (Tha) -3

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Korean teenager Noh Seung-yul maintained his excellent recent form to set the pace on the opening day of Asia's Open Championship qualifier at Saujana Golf and Country Club in Malaysia.

The 18-year-old clinched his second career title last weekend as he held his nerve in impressive style to win the Maybank Malaysian Open by one shot from veteran compatriot KJ Choi.

He carried over that momentum into the opening round of the two-day qualifier in Kuala Lumpur as he posted a six-under-par 66 to claim a share of the lead with Malaysia's Danny Chia.

A total of four places at St Andrews in July are up for grabs and world number 80 Hiroyuki Fujita of Japan and Korean amateur Eric Chun, runner-up at the inaugural Asian Amateur Championship in China at the end of last year, occupied the final two qualification places at five-under-par.

Looking to secure his first-ever major appearance, Noh could and perhaps should have ended the day clear of the field after a first round that included no fewer than seven birdies and an eagle.

However, the Korean starlet also mixed in a bogey and a double-bogey and stated afterwards: "It was a mixed round for me but overall I'm glad to shoot what I did on this tough course.

"My putting worked very well and you need that especially on these greens."

Chia was more steady and did not drop a single shot throughout the course of his 18 holes, with six birdies leaving him well-placed to earn a third Open appearance.

"Today was one of my best ball striking rounds of the year," said the 37-year-old. "I have to thank (Lam) Chih Bing and Unho (Park) for giving me some tips on my swing yesterday.

"That gave me some confidence plus I'm playing in Saujana and I have a lot of good memories on this golf course."

China's Wu Ashun and Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand remain very much in the hunt at three-under-par with India's Rahil Gangjee, Australia's Tony Carolan and South Korea's Lee Sung a further shot adrift.