Alexander Noren of Sweden stormed to the top of the leaderboard at the Maybank Malaysian Open on Thursday morning after a blistering start at Saujana Golf and Country Club.

The 26-year-old quickly found his groove after teeing off on the back nine of the Palm Course, picking up birdies on the first four holes and making the turn at six-under-par after further birdies on the 15th and 18th.

Noren’s playing partner, Noh Seung-yul of Korea, had five birdies on the back nine and joined the Swede in first place on six under with a birdie on the first.

But Noren edged ahead with a birdie on the second before birdies for both players on the par-five third put Noren in top spot on eight under and Noh in second on seven under after 12 holes.

Jean-Francois Lucquin of France was in third place on six under after making an eagle and four birdies through his first 11 holes with former Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Liang Wen-chong of China a further shot back after six birdies and a bogey through 11 holes.

England’s Ross McGowan was at four under through seven holes after picking up an eagle and two birdies on his first four holes.

World number 11 Anthony Kim, two-time Malaysian Open winner Thongchai Jaidee and Japan’s Shingo Katayama are scheduled to tee off in the afternoon.