SSP Chawrasia fired an opening 65 in tough conditions to take the first-round lead at the UBS Hong Kong Open, with Keith Horne two back.

The 2018 Race to Dubai got under way at Hong Kong Golf Club in gusty winds with scoring proving very tough for the first wave of players. The conditions eased in the afternoon, but nobody could catch Indian Chawrasia, whose five-under-par effort gave him a one-shot lead heading into Friday.

England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick continued his recent good form as he also mastered the early winds to sit at four-under alongside another Indian in Shubhankar Sharma.

Belgium’s Thomas Detry, Welshman Jamie Donaldson, Swede Marcus Kinhult, South African Keith Horne, Filipino Angelo Que, Thai Poom Saksansin and American Micah Lauren Shin were then at three-under.

Thomas Aiken is at -1 with Jbe Kruger, Dylan Frittelli and Erik Van Rooyen all at +1 after the opening round

Photo: Oeschger/Sunshine Tour/Gallo Images