South Africa's Justin Walters admitted he was "ecstatic" after an opening 67 gave him a share of the lead after a windswept opening day of the Qatar Masters.
Walters defied the testing conditions to fire five birdies and no bogeys in a flawless round at Doha Golf Club and join Spain's Adri Arnaus on five under par.
The only Irishman in the field, Gavin Moynihan, had a positive afternoon, and lies four shots shy of the lead after an opening round 71.
It could have been so much better for the Dubliner who found himself at three under at the turn before bogey on the 10th and then a double-bogey at 13 knocked him back. He recovered some ground with a birdie at the last to leave himself at one under par after Day One.
The South African Walters had a rather less mixed day.
"Warming up today in the wind I thought any score under par would be great, so to shoot five under I'm ecstatic," Walters said.
"I putted really well and my short game was really good today. I haven't played that well, even in calmer conditions, in a while so it's surprising and very welcome.
"I wouldn't want to play another three days with a wind like this, especially after a relentless spell of wind in Oman last week.
"Hopefully, as the conditions improve over the next few days I can continue to play the way I've played today."
Arnaus, who finished second on the Challenge Tour last year to graduate to the European Tour, and Walters enjoy a one-shot lead over a seven-strong group which includes South Africans Justin Harding and George Coetzee, Scotland's Richie Ramsay and Welshman Bradley Dredge.
"It was a lot of fun," Arnaus said after a round containing an eagle, four birdies and a solitary bogey.
"The wind picked up early but I kept the ball in play most of the time. I gave myself good birdie chances and I was able to take advantage of some of them, so I'm pleased.
"It was good getting into contention last year and then at the end being able to close it out at the Challenge Tour Grand Final gave me the belief that I could go on and do it on a bigger stage. Tomorrow is a new day so I'll just need to continue doing the same things."
Ramsay started his round with an eagle on the 10th - his opening hole of the day - and reached five under par after 10 holes, only to drop shots on the seventh and eighth before a closing birdie on the ninth.
Oman Open winner Kurt Kitayama, who is seeking a third European Tour victory in his last 10 starts, is part of a 19-strong group on three under par after an opening 69.
Pre-tournament favourite Thomas Pieters is a shot further back alongside his World Cup-winning partner Thomas Detry.
