Thai takes full control after blistering start

Phadungsil went to the turn at Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort in Noida in 33 then covered the back nine in just 28 shots with eight birdies – seven of them in succession – and one par.

The 24-year-old, who became the youngest winner on the Asian Tour by lifting the Double A International Open as a 17-year-old amateur in 2005, needed just 22 putts to tame the 7,347-yard course, the longest in the country.

“It’s my best round ever,” said Phadungsil. “It was very hot putting. I holed a lot of great putts. On the back nine, I drove the ball better, on the front nine I hit a lot of hook shots but holed my putts to save my score.

“I was a bit lucky; the morning was very windy but in the afternoon on the back nine it slowed down and my game was also very good. I will try my best to keep it going.”

On a day of low scoring, fellow Thai players Chawalit Plaphol and Chapchai Nirat, India’s Abhijit Singh Chadha, Swede Magnus A Carlsson and China’s Wenchong Liang shared second place on six under.

Yorkshire duo Richard Finch and Simon Dyson shot 71 and 73, respectively.