The 31-year-old Indonesian has never found himself in contention of late but a return to the Classic Golf and Country Club after almost a decade has rekindled happy memories when his last visit in 2009 ended with a top-10 finish.

“This is probably like the most enjoyable round I had all year. I felt like I was in the zone for most of the round and everything just worked to my favour,” Hie said.

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It was at the same event that witnessed a slice of history when Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat recorded the world’s lowest 72-hole score with a 32-under-par to win the third of his four Asian Tour titles then.

A two-week break from competitive golf where he worked closely with his mental coach also paid off for Thailand’s Sattaya Supupramai, as he returned with a 66 to trail Hie by two shots together with compatriots Kwanchai Tannin and Suradit Yongcharoenchai in tied-second place at the inaugural Asian Tour event.

“This is probably like the most enjoyable round I had all year. I felt like I was in the zone for most of the round and everything just worked to my favour.” – Rory Hie

Indian rookie Aadil Bedi took advantage of his course familiarity by signing for a 67 to end his day in share of fifth place with countryman Aman Raj and Sweden’s Andreas Gronkvist.

New Zealand’s Gareth Paddison meanwhile came close to tying the Asian Tour record for the lowest nine-hole score when he blitzed his front-nine with a 29. 

However, he could not maintain that momentum after a triple-bogey seven on the par-4 first followed by a closing birdie on 9 saw him finish the round with a 69, five shots back of Hie in tied-18th place.