Australia’s Scott Hend started solidly in the first round of the Hildesheim Open in South Korea on Thursday, carding a 68 to sit two strokes from the lead.

South Korean rookie Ma Soo-Kil and compatriot Lee Sang-Hee gave the local fans plenty to cheer about as they finished the day at the top of the leaderboard after signing for six-under par 66s at the Hildesheim Country Club in the city of Jecheon.

Ma, 22, mixed his card with five birdies, an eagle and a bogey while Lee enjoyed a flawless round that included an eagle-three on the 16th hole.

The South Korean dominance of the first round was complete when Choi Ho-Sung and Kim Dae-Hyun posted 67s to take tied third place at the tournament jointly sanctioned by the Asian and Korean tours.

Hend and fellow Asian Tour winner Pariya Junhasavasdikul of Thailand were among seven players in equal fifth on 68.

The Queenslander said he was pleased with his performance but admitted he had struggled with the speed of the turf.

“I was struggling with the slowness of the greens but overall it has been pretty good,” he said.

Ma, who topped the class at the Korean Tour qualifying school last year, continued to display his good form by reaching the turn in 33 after making three birdies on the fourth, fifth and seventh holes.

He stumbled briefly after the turn with a bogey on the 10th hole but recovered brilliantly with three birdies on holes 11, 13 and 16.

“My best ever score in my professional career was a 67 so today 66 is a good achievement. As the round went on, I could feel that my confidence was getting better and better,” said Ma.

Meanwhile 20-year-old Lee is hopeful that he will continue to break more records having earned his place in the history books as the youngest winner on the Korean Tour.