Sungai Buloh: Local hope R. Nachimuthu and Singaporean star Mardan Mamat carded matching five-under par 67s to share the opening round lead at the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) CCM Rahman Putra Masters on Wednesday.

Nachimuthu and Mardan got off to a hot start to take a one-shot lead at the RM200,000 (approximately US$65,000) event, which is the maiden Asian Development Tour (ADT) tournament to receive world ranking points in the new 2013 season.

S. Murthy and Iain Steel, Gary Knight of the United States, Nick Redfern of England, Australian Darren Tan and Wolmer Murillo, the first Venezuelan to play on the ADT, were a further shot back on 68s at Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia.

Mardan, a three-time Asian Tour winner, continued his bright start to the year with another solid display, holing a huge 30 foot eagle putt on the fifth hole and sank five other birdies against two bogeys.

“I’m satisfied with the way I played. I concentrated a lot on my fitness during the off season. I went to the gym for four times a week and work out for two hours which has helped my game,” said the 45-year-old, who lost in a play-off to Filipino compatriot Antonio Lascuna at the Sabah Masters earlier in the month.

Nachimuthu, the PGM Tour’s number one in 2011, peppered the flags with acute iron shots and was rewarded with three birdies in the last four holes to share the first round honours.

“I’ve been working a lot with my coach (Andrew Argus) and it seems to be paying off. I kept calm and hit a lot of greens which helped. I think the players can really benefit from earning world ranking points,” said Nachimuthu.

Malaysians Wilson Choo, Khor Kheng Hwai and Irfan Yusof and Austrian Uli Weinhandl, Grant Jackson of England, Mitsuhiko Hashizume of Japan, Lam Chih Bing of Singapore, James Bowen of the United States, Lindsay Renolds of Canada and Edward Reyes of the Philippines posted identical 69s for tied ninth.

Leading first round scores
67: R. Nachimuthu,  Mardan Mamat (SIN)
68: S. Murthy, Gary Knight (USA), Wolmer Murillo (VEN), Darren Tan (AUS), Iain Steel, Nick Redfern (ENG)
69: Wilson Choo, Uli Weinhandl (AUT), Grant Jackson (ENG), Mitsuhiko Hashizume (JPN), Khor Kheng Hwai, Lam Chih Bing (SIN), James Bowen (USA), Lindsay Renolds (CAN), Edward Reyes (PHI), Irfan Yusof