Ian Snyman, third on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, opened the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship in New Taipei City, Taiwan, with a two-under-par 70 to be in a share of 47th after the first round.

Snyman made four birdies and two bogeys at the Linkou International Golf & Country Club, and he finished the day six strokes off the lead. Malaysian Ervin Chang, Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert and Chien-yao Hung from Chinese-Taipei seized the lead, shooting stunning eight-under-par 64s.

Jaco Ahlers fired a one-over-par 73 to be in a share of 103rd, while Jbe’ Kruger was on four-over in a share of 137th.

Snyman had a good start, with no drops in the first 10 holes, and birdies on one, seven and 10. He dropped two in a row on the 11th and 12th, and picked up a birdie on the par-four 15th.

His third place on the Order of Merit is close enough to second – he’s 5.03 points back – for him to know that a good finish here could see him climb closer to the top spot which is held by Australia’s Travis Smyth.