Manuel Elvira claimed the first round lead at the Duncan Taylor Black Bull Challenge after setting a new course record in a professional event at Karnataka Golf Association with a nine under par round of 63.

The 26-year-old’s six birdies on the front nine meant he made the turn at six under par, before four more birdies and a single bogey coming in put him in pole position heading into the second round in the European Challenge Tour’s first event in India for ten years.

“Everything was on point with my game today. I put myself in position off the tee, hit some really good approach shots and then managed to hole my putts and make some birdies.”

Nine players share third place on five under par, including four-time DP World Tour winner Matteo Manassero, Englishmen Steven Brown and Ashley Chesters, Swedes Joel Sjoholm and Henric Sturehed, Italian Stefano Mazzoli, Germany’s Velten Meyer and Indian duo Aman Raj and M Dharma.

The second round will get under way at 6:40am local time, with Elvira teeing it up alongside Indian Amrit Lal Lubana and Sri Lankan N Thangara at 11:55am.