Two-time Asia-Pacific amateur champion Hideki Matsuyama of Japan and Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh fired 6-under-par rounds of 66 Thursday to share the lead after the first round of the Asian International Final Qualifying event for the British Open.
Teenage Chinese amateur Guan Tianlang, who won the Asia-Pacific Amateur championship at the same course last year and has already qualified for the Masters, was 1 over after the first round.
China's Hu Mu, Australia's Scott Barr and Singapore pair Quincy Quek and Lam Zhigun had a share of third place at 5 under at the par-72 Amata Spring Country Club course. American Anthony Kang was in a group of eight at 4 under.
Four players can qualify from the Asian IFQ, one of five continental qualifiers for the 2013 British Open at Muirfield.
