KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 14 (UPI) -- Alex Noren shot an 8-under-par 64 Thursday and has the lead after the first round of the European Tour's Maybank Malaysian Open.
Noren opened his round at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club with three consecutive birdies and went on to build a two-stroke lead over Matteo Manassero, whose round of 6-under 66 included four consecutive birdies in one stretch.
Darren Beck, Stephen Gallagher and Jeev Milkha Singh are tied for third at 5-under 67.
Felipe Aguilar is one of three players at 4-under through 17 holes but was among the four groups unable to finish their rounds Thursday because of darkness. Those groups will complete the first round Friday before second-round play.
Alexander opened his tournament on the second nine Thursday and birdied Nos. 10-12. He gave a stroke back with a five on the par-4 14th hole before posting back-to-back birdies at 16 and 17. He was 4-under on the front side, capping the day with a birdie at the ninth hole.
"My putter was great today," Noren said. "After that my driver was steady then it was all about getting it close enough. I felt lucky at times when they kept rolling in but you have to have that sometimes. I holed a lot from six or seven meters (20-23 feet)."
