Scott Piercy shot a 62 to seize a three-stroke lead in the opening round of the CIMB Classic in Malaysia on Thursday with two-time defending champion Ryan Moore among the chasing pack.
Piercy turned in a bogey-free 10-under that included a chip-in for birdie on the 13th hole, one of 10 birdies in a round that was just one off of the tournament record set by Nick Watney in 2012.
“I got a little lucky, got the putter rolling, and I continued to hit it pretty solid,” he said. “To hit 62, you got to get some things to go right for you.”
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama was three strokes behind Piercy, while five players including 2011 PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley were tied for third at six-under.
Moore finished in a group at five-under in hot and humid conditions at the par-72 Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
He is hoping to become the first golfer to win a PGA Tour event three straight times since Steve Stricker at the John Deere Classic from 2009-11.
“I’m comfortable on this course, I like the conditions, and for some reason it brings good things out of my game,” he said.
Scott Brown provided the day’s highlight with an ace on the 189-yard, par-three 15th hole, which won him a BMW sports car.
“Walking up looking at the card I thought it would be nice to be make a hole-in-one and win something. So that was my thought walking there, to make a one,” Brown said.
Joining Brown at four-under was former Masters winner Adam Scott of Australia, who managed a 68 despite having to ditch his signature sunglasses, which were fogging up from the humidity.
Sergio Garcia came in with a two-under 70, while world number seven Henrik Stenson, the highest ranked player in the field, finished a stroke further back.
The $7 million tournament is jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the PGA Tour and offers the winner $1.26 million.
It is the third event of the PGA Tour’s wrap-around 2016 schedule, and the victor also racks up 500 FedEx Cup points.