Little-known Indian Amandeep Johl out-shone the stars to claim a one-shot lead after the first round of the Omega Hong Kong Open at Fanling today.
The 33-year-old, 214th on last season's European Order of Merit, fired a six-under round 63 on a day when players struggled to make the kind of impact which had been expected over the short par 69 course.
Johl's score put him five clear of England's Nick Faldo - returning to the course for the first time since his Johnnie Walker Classic win here in 1990 - who shot a 68, and six clear of defending champion Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal.
Disease-ridden greens had forced a shortening of the course and the professionals were expected to make light work of it.
Johl's round ignited with an eagle at the ninth, which he followed up with four birdies in five holes before a late bogey at the 17th.
His score left him a shot clear of Mexican Pablo del Olmo, Zimbabwean Tony Johnstone, Swede Henrik Nystrom and Welshman Stephen Dodd who all posted five-under 64s.
Six-time major winner Faldo, who had complained of feeling worn out before the tournament, finished with birdies at his last two holes to mask what had been a fairly low-key first day.
Much of the attention in the build-up to the tournament has focused on the condition of the Fanling course.
And after his round Faldo, who now spends much of his time involved with course design and is currently involved with the Mission Hills project in Hong Kong, was clear about what he thought the course needed.
He said: "There's plenty of sand out there - on the greens. It needs a Nick Faldo redesign! It's a really nice setting but I just think it should be brought up to speed.
"I'd hate to see what the greens are going to look like for some of the late starters today - they should have a guy rolling each green after every group.
PA