Deyen Lawson turned in 30 to take a two shot lead early on day one of the Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa.
The Australian has made headlines since graduating from last year's Qualifying School, hitting two holes-in-one in just eight events and making four cuts along the way.
Out in the very first group of the day as the event made its debut on the European Tour, he moved to five under at Karen Country Club to sit ahead of fellow Q School graduate Filippo Bergamaschi.
Spaniard Pep Angles, South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Swedes Christofer Blomstrand and Per Langfors and Norwegian Espen Kofstad were then at two under.
Lawson birdied the third, fourth and sixth to take the early lead and then moved further ahead with a two on the par four ninth.
Bergamaschi started on the back nine and he had birdies on the 11th, 12th and 15th in his first eight holes.
Blomstrand had an eagle on the par five 12th in his first seven holes, while Bezuidenhout made two birdies in his first six.
Kofstad also had an eagle on the 12th and playing partner Langfors made two birdies in his first three holes.
Angles made a birdie-birdie start from the tenth.
European Tour winners Grégory Bourdy and Oliver Wilson were in the group at one under.
