Rafa Cabrera Bello opened up a one-shot lead at the UBS Hong Kong Open courtesy of a stunning eagle that saw him sign for an opening 64.
The Spaniard arrived at the final event of the calendar year looking for a win to complete a stunning 2016 that has seen him not miss a single cut and make his Ryder Cup debut.
It was a nip-and-tuck morning at Hong Kong Golf Club, with a host of players sharing top spot, but Cabrera Bello broke away as he holed from the fairway on his final hole for an eagle and a six under par total.
Frenchman Sébastien Gros was then the best of the second wave, birdieing his final hole to sit one shot off the lead and one clear of a group of ten players in a tie for third.
Cabrera Bello has been a picture of consistency throughout the year, securing five top fives on his way to eighth in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex.
He now finishes his year and begins his 2017 season in the Far East, and he could not have done it in much more style, pitching his approach to the tenth a foot past the pin and spinning it back into the hole.
"That was nice," he said. "I had perfect distance, hit a really good shot and was surprised to see it go in. But I had never really finished a round like that and it felt nice.
"I played really smart today, made very little mistakes. I hit every green, didn't get myself in trouble off the tee. I was in control of the round all day and putted nicely too, so it was nice work out there.
I was in control of the round all day and putted nicely too, so it was nice work out there - Rafa Cabrera Bello
"It's all about position, position, position and rolling one or two putts and I did that very well today."
Cabrera Bello had kept himself in touch with the early jostling as 2016 Challenge Tour winner Jordan Smith and Paul Peterson both hit the front on their own in the early stages.
After starting on the 11th, he birdied the 16th, 17th, first and third to sit in a share of the lead before his sensational finish put him two shots clear.
He maintained that cushion throughout most of the afternoon before Gros birdied the tenth to go with gains on the 12th, first, fourth and fifth to cut the gap to one.
Englishman Smith and American Peterson were then in the large group at four under with Spanish duo Jorge Campillo and Nacho Elvira, Australian Sam Brazel, England's Tommy Fleetwood and American David Lipsky all signing for rounds of 66 from the first wave.
American Peter Uihlein then joined them in the afternoon as he birdied the last and South African Jbe Kruger and Frenchman Benjamin Hebert also got to four under.
Ian Poulter - the 2010 winner - and Masters Tournament champion Danny Willett were then at two under, with defending champion Justin Rose a further two shots back.