South Korean rookie Ma Soo-Kil and compatriot Lee Sang-Hee put the hosts on top as they shared the first round lead at the inaugural Volvik Hildesheim Open J Golf Series on Thursday.
They posted matching six-under-par 66s on the opening day of the $300,000 tournament in Jecheon, South Korea, which is jointly sanctioned by the Asian and Korean Tours.
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.
Meanwhile Asian Tour winners Pariya Junhasavasdikul of Thailand and Australia's Scott Hend were among seven players in equal fifth on 68 at the Hildesheim Country Club.
Ma, who topped the class at the Korean Golf 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 Golf Tour.
Top-billed Hend, a two-time Asian Tour winner, 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.
Leading scores after round one of the Volvik Hildesheim Open J Golf Series:
66 - Ma Soo-Kil (KOR), Lee Sang-Hee (KOR).
67 - Choi Ho-Sung (KOR), Kim Dae-Hyun (KOR).
68 - Scott Hend (AUS), Kim Meen-Whee (KOR), Pariya Junhasavasdikul (THA), Lee Min-Chang (KOR), Baek Joo-Yeob (KOR), Kim Seong-Yong (KOR), Mo Joong-Kyung (KOR)
