Australia’s Darcy Brereton finished his round in fine form at the Singha Laguna Phuket Open in Thailand today, posting an eagle and five birdies in his closing six holes to take the clubhouse lead after a rain-delayed start.

He was later joined in the lead by Thailand’s Sarut Vongchaisit who matched his six-under-par 64 with a bogey free round after the weather cleared in the THB4 million Asian Development Tour event, co-sanctioned with the All Thailand Golf Tour.

Play was delayed for 95 minutes in the morning due to heavy rain but once the weather cleared play was restarted with preferred lies due to the heavy course conditions.

Playing in his first ADT event, the Melbourne native reflected on the contrast between the start and finish of his round.

“It was certainly a tale of two nines,” he said after signing his card. “I teed off on (hole) nine, I was in good positions, the only green I missed was 10 where I hit driver, it went through the green and into the water. Made the up and down and hit every green pretty close on that nine but missed a lot of putts,” he added.

“I got things going on the back nine, finished with an eagle and five birdies in a row, which was a good way to finish.

“It’s a great layout here, I love golf in Asia and I think it really suits my game so I’ve been desperate to get over here. It’s a big course, in good condition, it’s just the greens take a bit of getting used to,” he said.

In third place, Thailand’s Charng-Tai Sudsom lies a shot back on five under par, one shot ahead of Singapore’s Joshua Yap and the Thai trio of Panuwat Bulsombath, Supravee Phatam and Pattaraphol Khanthacha.

In eighth place, on three under, Malaysia’s Marcus Lim and Shariffuddin Ariffin wrere joined by Thailand’s Nopparat Panichphol, Natipong Srithong and Kasidit Lepkurte, Berry Henson of the USA and Singapore’s Koh Dengshan.

The delay at the start of the day meant some players were unable to finish their rounds due to fading light and play will restart at 6.40am tomorrow morning. A total of 31 players remain on the course with a few holes to play and Round Two will start as scheduled.