Thai star Thongchai Jaidee drew inspiration from the presence of his family members by firing a superb seven-under-par 65 to take the second round lead at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters on Friday.

Thongchai, who holds an unprecedented three Order of Merit titles, posted a flawless round highlighted by seven birdies for two-day total of 10-under-par 134 at the US$750,000 Asian Tour event which is played at the immaculate Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

Thailand’s 17-year-old sensation Ariya Jutanugarn took Thursday’s first round by storm and delivered a 7-under 64 to take the lead at the Kingsmill Championship. She opened up her round with six birdies on the front nine and followed up with two more through 16 before carding a double-bogey on the par-3 17th. She ended the round with a 5-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to finish with a two-stroke lead over 16-year LPGA Tour veteran Cristie Kerr.

Jutanugarn, who is a rookie on the Ladies European Tour, recently recorded her first professional win in March at the LET’s stop in Morocco and leads the LET money list after competing in just four events. She turned some heads on the LPGA Tour this year when she finished runner-up to Inbee Park at the Honda LPGA Thailand after a carding a triple-bogey on 18th hole, which cost her the title. She has also recorded two additional top-5 LPGA Tour finishes at the HSBC Women’s Champions and the LPGA LOTTE Championship Presented by J Golf.

Charles-Edouard Russo took inspiration from his best friend François Calmels’ victory last week to shoot a seven under par 64 in the first round of the Montecchia Golf Open presented by POLAROID before thunderstorms interrupted play.

All but five of the afternoon groups will have to return on Friday morning to complete round one, but Frenchman Russo was safely in the clubhouse with a one-shot lead after carding eight birdies and one bogey earlier in the day at Golf Club della Montecchia near Venice.

Robert-Jan Derksen made light of stiff winds to shoot a six-under-par 66 for a two-shot lead after the opening round of the Volvo China Open at Tianjin Binhai Lake Golf Club on Thursday. The tall Dutchman shrugged off two early bogeys with eight birdies around the links-style course to stamp his mark on the 20 million yuan (around U.S. $3.2 million) tournament, co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the European Tour.

Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat, France's Raphael Jacquelin and Australian Brett Rumford  -- winners on the European Tour already this season -- had a share of second place, while six players were bunched a shot further back.

Australia’s Scott Hend continued his dominant Asian Tour run by shooting a six-under-par 66 to share the opening round honours with Hwang Inn-choon of Korea at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters on Thursday. Reigning Open Championship winner Ernie Els of South Africa was also in the mix after returning with a 68 at the US$750,000 Asian Tour event which is staged at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

Bernd Wiesberger of Austria, who finished tied-seventh last year, fired 67 for third while Thai rising star Arnond Vongvanij, Jason Knutzon of the United States, Adilson Da Silva of Brazil and Australians David Lutterus and Scott Barr, who is playing in his 200th Asian Tour event, were a further shot back with Els.

The big-hitting Hend renewed his fondness of playing in the country where he won his first Asian Tour title in 2008. He was delighted to be in position to win his second victory this season following his triumph at the Chiangmai Golf Classic in Thailand in March.

“I’m in a good position. The scores are going to be low this week so I’ve got to keep grinding those numbers and add that into a good score,” said Hend, who traded six birdies and one eagle against one double bogey.

“The ball is not rolling very far because of how wet it is from the rain last night. We (big hitters) have an advantage over the other guys but you still have to get those putts into the hole,” said the three-time Asian Tour winner.

Starting from the 10th tee, Hend got off to a fast start with three straight birdies from 12. He double bogeyed five but it was swiftly erased with an eagle two on the subsequent hole.

“Got a bit unlucky and hit an average drive and chipped out from the rough where I hit into the cart path which went into an unplayable lie and took a double bogey. These things happen in golf but I got straight back into business with an eagle,” said Hend.

Korea’s Hwang, who won on the Asian Tour in 2008, put his new putter to good use when he birdied four of his closing five holes to share the lead.

“I haven’t been putting good enough so on Wednesday, I decided to go to the pro-shop to buy a new Odyssey putter. It felt very good and that’s why I played so well!” he smiled.

“I’m very happy because my putting was so good and I hit a lot of drives on the fairways. I like to play on this golf course. It has very good fairways and fast greens,” added Hwang.

A return to Asia has brought out the best from four-time Major champion Els, who finished tied 13th at the Masters Tournament and was placed 15th on the PGA Tour on Sunday.

“I’m starting to feel more comfortable with my game. The last time I played in Chiangmai, I wasn’t too comfortable with my game. I played okay at the Masters Tournament and had a nice week at New Orleans.

“I feel that things are starting to come around so I got to thank the Asian Tour for getting my game back in shape. I like playing out here,” said the world number 24.

Scores after round 1

66 - HWANG Inn-choon (KOR), Scott HEND (AUS).

67 - Bernd WIESBERGER (AUT).

68 - Adilson DA SILVA (BRA), Ernie ELS (RSA), David LUTTERUS (AUS), Jason KNUTZON (USA), Scott BARR (AUS), Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA), Unho PARK (AUS).

69 - Jake HIGGINBOTTOM (AUS), Carlos PIGEM (ESP), Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA), Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA), Simon DYSON (ENG), Wade ORMSBY (AUS), Javi COLOMO (ESP), Gunn CHAROENKUL (THA), Thongchai JAIDEE (THA), Sattaya SUPUPRAMAI (THA).

70 - Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA), Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA), Shiv KAPUR (IND), Iain STEEL (MAS), HUNG Chien-yao (TPE), Sujjan SINGH (IND), Chris RODGERS (ENG), Daisuke KATAOKA (JPN), Ryan MCCARTHY (AUS), Kieran PRATT (AUS), Darren CLARKE (NIR), Angelo QUE (PHI), Zaw MOE (MYN), Antonio LASCUNA (PHI), Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA), Peter RICHARDSON (ENG).

71 - Adam GROOM (AUS), Matt JAGER (AUS), Peter GUSTAFSSON (SWE), PARK Hyun-bin (KOR), HSU Mong-nan (TPE), Rahil GANGJEE (IND), Danny CHIA (MAS), Matthew STIEGER (AUS), Kalle SAMOOJA (FIN), Ajeetesh SANDHU (IND), Jonathan MOORE (USA), Chapchai NIRAT (THA), Nicholas FUNG (MAS), Panuwat MUENLEK (THA), Adam BLYTH (AUS).

A return to Asia has brought out the best from Ernie Els after he trailed Australia’s Scott Hend and Korea’s Hwang Inn-choon by two shots in the first round of the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters on Thursday.

The South African, nicknamed Big Easy, shot a four-under-par 68 with the long putter highlighted by five birdies and one ‘silly’ bogey, to end the day tied for fourth at the US$750,000 at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

Raphaël Jacquelin has been named The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month for April following his record-equalling play-off victory in the Open de España at Parador de El Saler, Valencia, Spain.

Jacquelin, who receives an engraved alms dish and a Jeroboam of Moët & Chandon champagne, hit a wedge to five feet for a winning birdie at the ninth extra hole to overcome Germany’s Maximilian Kieffer after Chile’s Felipe Aguilar had departed at the third extra hole.

South African Branden Grace seeks to become the first player to win the Volvo China Open for a second time when he defends his title in the 20 million yuan (U.S. $3.2 million) OneAsia and European Tour co-sanctioned tournament at Tianjin Binhai Lake Golf Club starting Thursday.

Grace claimed the crown on the same course last year during a breakthrough season that saw him win four European Tour titles and soar up the world rankings to his current 32nd spot, booking a ticket to all the Majors and World Golf Championships events.