Justin Harding carded a five-under-par 66 on Thursday in the first round of the Asian Tour’s International Series Korea at Lotte Skyhill Country Club in Jeju, South Korea, to be in a share of third place.

He made six birdies and a bogey, and trailed the leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand who rode a run of seven consecutive birdies from the first hole on his way to his eight-under-par 63. Tangkamolprasert led by two from Eric Chun of South Korea, who was on six-under.

Harding started his round on the 10^th, and picked up his first birdie on the 11^th. He followed that up with another on the 12^th, and then made another two in a row on the 13^th and 14^th two turn in four-under 32. Another two in a row came on three and four, but his lone bogey followed that flurry on the fifth. It was pars all the way home after that.

Harding shared third with another Thai golfer, Jazz Janewattananond, Australian Brett Rumford, and fellow-South African Ian Snyman. Snyman made an eagle, four birdies and an eagle in his five-under 66.

Jaco Ahlers opened with a three-under-par 68 to take up a share of 12^th after 18 holes. He shared 12^th with, amongst others, Keith Horne. Jovan Rebula had a level-par 71 to be in a share of 71^st, as did Tristen Strydom and Zimbabwean Scott Vincent. Neil Schietekat was on one-over and Adilson Da Silva had two-over 73 to open. Another Zimbabwean, Benjamin Follett-Smith signed for a seven-over-par 78.