XIAMEN, China, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Asian Tour rookie William Harrold of Britain exploded into life in the opening round of the 2017 Asian Golf Championship, shooting a new course record of an eight-under-par 64 to lead by four here on Thursday.

The 29-year-old Harrold, who came through the Qualifying School earlier in January, rode on his hot form to highlight eight birdies at the Kaikou Golf Club's West course.

Namchok Tantipokhakul of Thailand fired five birdies against a bogey to sit in the second

place at the $350,000 US dollar tournament, the first event in China since 2008 sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Chinese Golf Association.

Sharing the third place are seven players at 69, including local prospects Liu Yanwei, Ye Jianfeng and Hung Chien Yao of Chinese Taipei.

Ranked 1,092nd on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) at the start of the season, the 20-year-old Liu jumped to a current 650th position.

Hung scored one of the two eagles in the opening round on Thursday.