Thailand’s Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij was the victor in a festival of birdies at the top of the leaderboard at the Aramco Invitational Tournament in Saudi Arabia today, his flawless 64 edging the field after the first round.

Six players atop the leaderboard did not drop a shot after 18 holes today, with James Leow of Singapore (65) in second place ahead by two shots of Uganda’s Joshua Seale, Matt Killen of England, Thailand’s Nattawat Suvanajanakorn and Naoki Sekito of Japan in third after carding bogey-free 67s.

Dodge Kemmer of the USA, who posted a lone bogey on hole 10, shared second place with a 65.

“It’s going very well,” said Varanyu after his round “I made birdie quite early and my game was flowing, going smooth, so I just tried to keep making birdies and not make any mistakes.”

DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA: James Leow of Singapore pictured on November 27, 2024 during the 1st round of Aramco Invitational Tournament at Rolling Hills Golf Club on November 27, 2024 in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Thananuwat Srirasant/Asian Tour)

Sweden’s Filip Lundell also joined the group in fourth place with a 67, together with Thailand’s Kammalas Namuangruk, Nattawat Suvajanakorn and Tanapat Pichaikool, winner of last week’s Toyota Tour Championship and looking to consolidate his gains in the final Asian Development Tour event of the season.

Tanapat, who is closing in on the leaders in the season-long Order of Merit race, will be looking to get maximum points in this US$250,000 tournament at Rolling Hills Golf Club in Saudi Arabia.

Ahmad Baig of Pakistan, currently in second place in the OOM and also in joint fourth with a 67 after Round One today, will be looking to protect his slight advantage, while OOM leader Rahil Gangee of India is three shots back in a share of 26th place.

On four under par is a large group in 12th spot, led by Korea’s Hyukchul Shin, Marcus Lim and Amir Nazrin of Malaysia, Arjun Prasad and Khalin Joshi of India, Aidric Chan of the Philippines, Joel Stalter of France and the Thai quartet of Sarun Sirithon, Itthipat Buranatanyarat, Runchanapong Youprayong and Sarut Vongchaisit.

With everything to play for as the ADT season draws to a close, the tournament will continue for the second round starting at 6.30am, with the last goups teeing off at 11.40am.