John Hahn broke the course record by four shots at Aalborg Golf Klub with an impressive 64 to take the lead after round one of the Made in Denmark Challenge – Presented by Ejner Hessel on the European Challenge Tour.
The American battled difficult conditions after teeing off in the morning, but was unfazed by the wind and rain and shot seven birdies for a bogey-free round.
The 27 year old, who qualified for the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club, reached the turn in 33 after gains on ten and 18. But it was over the front nine, his back nine, where the Ohio man made his mark, carding five birdies to claim a one shot lead.
Despite having England’s Ashton Turner and Aaron Rai plus German duo Moritz Lampert and Alexander Knappe close behind, Hahn is confident he can stay on top after a record-breaking start.
“I stayed aggressive all day,” said Hahn who claimed a European Tour card for the 2014 campaign via Qualifying School.
“Some days you read it right and you hit it on your line and it doesn’t go in but today I had a lot of long ones drop.
“It was really tough. Early on we had wind and it was super cold in the morning then we had lots of rain. That is when it is really good to have a caddie – they do so much work for you and we just go it in.
“I made a nice birdie on 18, my ninth hole, and that was one of the highlights of my round. I found the course suited me really well. I had a lot of left-to-right into-the-wind shots and I felt like I was a guy who was hitting it really good.
“The par threes I hit some really good shots into and I think my all round game is pretty solid right now. I am feeling pretty confident.
“I didn’t have a score in mind this morning, I just wanted to go out, be aggressive and play good. I will have to stay playing this way for the rest of the week as Challenge Tour scores are so low that you know you have to get to 20 under.”
One shot adrift of Hahn is English amateur Ashton Turner who signed for a six under par 65 to sit tied for second in his first event on Europe’s top developmental tour.
“Everything was very solid today,” said the 20 year old who started his round in the afternoon. “The putter was nice and hot, my game was good and it was a steady round with no bogeys – I just picked up a few birdies here and there.
“The conditions looked pretty difficult while I was eating my lunch so I was quite pleased to be sat inside. This afternoon the breeze was still there but there were perfect conditions really – nice and sunny.
“I wouldn’t say I was aggressive out there today – it just kind of happened. It is a great experience to have in my first event and we will see what happens.”
One shot further back from Turner was Sweden’s Oscar Stark who set off at a blistering pace, making five birdies on the front nine to reach the turn in 30.
Home favourite Jesper Gunder finished as the highest-placed Dane in the field, carding four birdies and three bogeys on his way to making a one under par 70.
