Dougherty: Two clear
Three birdies in the last five is not that tall an order but unfortunately, it didn't happen
First round leaders:
-10 N Dougherty (Eng)
-8 S Dyson (Eng)
-8 M Fraser (Aus)
-7 D Chia (Mal)
-7 K Horne (SA)
-7 S Kjeldsen (Den)
-7 D Vancsik (Arg)
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Nick Dougherty fired a sensational 10-under-par 62 to set the pace at the Malaysian Open.
The 25-year-old Liverpudlian's outstanding start to the tournament included a run of seven consecutive birdies as he made light work of what he described as a 'thinking man's course'.
Starting with a par at the 10th, Dougherty birdied the next three holes before completing his first nine with three further birdies to reach the turn at six under.
He then made it seven birdies in a row by picking up shots at each of the first four holes of the 6,979-yard course at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club.
Five consecutive pars dampened his fire and he missed the chance to become the first player to shoot 59 on the European Tour when he failed to hole makeable birdie putts over the closing holes.
Flawless
However, his bogey-free round was enough to put him two shots clear of fellow Englishman Simon Dyson, who made eight birdies in his flawless round of 64, and Australia's Marcus Fraser.
"It was a great start to the tournament. It was my lowest round on Tour and it sets me up well," said Dougherty.
"I drove the ball really well and putted really well and while my iron play wasn't up to scratch, the good thing was that my misses were all in the right places.
"It was nice to string some birdies together because that's one thing I've been lacking. It's superb to string seven together today and 10 in all and have no bogeys."
Dougherty admitted that he did harbour thoughts of shooting a 59 after moving to 10 under for the day with five holes to play.
"I knew it was on after I made a long birdie on the fourth. Three birdies in the last five is not that tall an order but unfortunately, it didn't happen.
"I felt that my chances on five and six weren't too great but I botched up the par-five seventh. Missing the green with a three-iron into it was poor and although I made a good pitch, I missed the putt for birdie.
"And I hit two great putts on the last two green and thought that I had made both of them.
"It was there to be done but it didn't happen. Even so, I'm quite pleased with the score I got."
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