Nick Doughery leads after career low round - Maybank Malaysian Open 2008

Dougherty fired seven straight birdies in his 10-birdie round to lead English compatriot Simon Dyson and Australian Marcus Fraser, who both shot eight-under-par 64s.

South Africa’s Keith Horne, Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen, Malaysian Danny Chia and Argentina’s Daniel Vancsik were tied for fourth a further stroke behind.

“It was a great start to the tournament, it’s my lowest round on Tour which is always nice,” said Dougherty, whose maiden European Tour victory was in Singapore in 2005.

“I played well, I drove the ball well, I putted really well. All in all it was a superb round of golf.”

The Malaysian Open is the fifth leg of the Asian Tour and is co-sanctioned by the European Tour.

Low scores were the order of the day with 98 golfers shooting under par.

Dougherty expects a winning score of 18 under or better at the Kota Permai Golf Club and hopes to bag his third Tour title.

“Inevitably, I am not going to shoot three more 10 under pars but certainly I am in a good position,” he said.

New Zealand’s Mark Brown, aiming for a third straight title after wins at the SAIL Open and Johnnie Walker Classic, opened with a six-under 66 to lie eighth with eight other golfers.

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