(MENAFN- Gulf Times) England's Justin Rose fired a 10-under-par round yesterday to take a two-shot lead after the first day of the Indonesian Masters in Jakarta.
Rose, who is ranked sixth in the world, notched up a bogey-free scorecard and bagged 10 birdies to take pole position in the Asian Tour's season-ending event.
Thailand's Gunn Charoenkul was two shots back on 64, one ahead of fellow Thai Phachara Khongwatmai — who eagled the 18th — and South Korea's Giwhan Kim.
Rose has enjoyed a stellar end to the year, with back-to-back wins in China and Turkey in the past two months, and carried the same form into day one at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
The 2016 Olympics gold medallist parred the first before rattling off three birdies in a row. His round of 62 could have been a course record if not for the preferred lie ruling which was in force.
Playing alongside Rose, newly crowned Asian Tour champion Gavin Green shot an underwhelming 70 to finish two under.
The 23-year-old Malaysian, who holds an unassailable lead coming into the Indonesian Masters, will be officially crowned on the final day of the event.
Veteran American Brandt Snedeker scored an on-par 72, while defending champion Poom Saksansin, from Thailand, was one under for a share of 59th.
Indonesian Rinaldi Adiyandono was the best placed of the 26 locals in the field after a round of 68.
'That is a dream start to be honest with you. I birdied the first hole. I felt comfortable from the outset. Did all the right thing today I suppose, I put the ball in play from the tee, said Rose.
'Obviously with ball in hand and placing the ball on the fairway, you had a perfect lie for every shot providing you put the ball in the fairway. So that is what I did well and was able to take advantage.
'The beginning part of the week was really busy. I have been getting acquainted with the tournament, sponsor commitments, Pro Am. My week gets a bit easier now. So maybe I will get a chance to sample some of the sites and some good restaurants.
Rose said perfect conditions made his life easy on the course.
'This course, the way it is today, it is there for the taking. Obviously there was no wind, it was perfect golf conditions. The fairways are soft, the fairways are playing wide and generous but the greens aren't too soft but therefore they are rolling really true.
'They perfect for going low but we will see what the weekend brings. So far a great start and I am trying not to get ahead of myself. I think the key this week is recovery. It is hot. Hot and steamy and soft under foot.
'It is a long walk out there so I am going to be focusing on recovery. Try and find an ice bath somewhere and jump in that, maybe go for a swim, go to the gym. Do all those kinds of things, take care of my body.'
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