Yuan carded a five-under 67 at Taiwan Golf & Country Club to lead by one, navigating an extremely hot day on a course that once again lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest on the Asian Tour.

South Africa’s Jbe Kruger and Malaysia’s Gavin Green, both former winners at the venue, sit alongside Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po and Thailand’s Atiruj Winaicharoenchai at four-under.

New Zealand’s Denzel Ieremia is among a group another shot back at three-under.

Yuan began on the back nine and had already reached four-under when he arrived at the 333-yard par-four fifth, his 14th hole.

With driver in hand, the 29-year-old took aim and found the bottom of the cup from 18 feet.

“So me and Clayton [his caddie] were thinking about hitting driver to reach because we had the front tee box this week, and driver's been feeling good. So, I hit driver and hit it to like maybe 18 feet, just short of the flag, and I had a really good putt there. So yeah, it was driver and a holed putt.”

Yuan added five birdies and two bogeys to reach five-under, continuing a strong season that has lifted him to 31st on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

“I started off with a great birdie to go on 10, and 10's always such a tough hole to start. Had a great four iron, and then holed a really good 15 footer, and then made a huge par on 11, and then yeah, it's just been up and down.

“Like I made a few big pars today, which really helped my scores because on this course it's quite easy to make bogey. The rough is really thick, and the fairways are pretty tiny. So you miss the fairway, and you're just trying to save par.”

Kruger, who won the event in 2024, knows exactly what Yuan and the rest of the field are facing.

“It was brutal,” said Kruger.

“It's just a tough golf course. You have to play well. You can't make mistakes. Every single shot you have to concentrate on because it's just that tough.

“The greens are so fast, if you miss the fairways, you can't stop it. So, you have to physically try and hit the fairway, and if you don't, you're just trying to get it on the green. So, it's just not a normal golf course. It's literally try and hit the fairway, then you try and hit the green because the greens are so fast, because they're so good.”

Kruger made an eagle and four birdies to reach four-under, while Green matched his score with five birdies and one bogey on his first appearance at the event since winning it in 2017.

The Malaysian had spent three months sidelined with tennis elbow and was delighted to rediscover his form.

“Obviously, had not much real expectations,” he said.

“I've been injured for like three months now. Obviously, the place has changed a lot for me. I think I just actually played quite well and actually had the feeling of playing nice again.”

Atiruj also continued his strong form after finishing 18-under at a first-stage DP World Tour Qualifying School event in Belgium earlier this month.

“I am trying to get better every year and try new things. I have been playing in tough conditions already, so I am prepared for this week.”

Last week’s Yeangder TPC winner Pavit Tangkamolprasert opened with a one-under 71, while fellow Asian Tour Order of Merit contenders Taichi Kho and defending champion Rattanon Wannasrichan struggled to 74 and 76 respectively.