Tapio Pulkkanen sets new course record to surge clear in Shanghai

Tapio Pulkkanen produced a stunning round of 62 to set a new course record and surge into a three-shot lead at the Volvo China Open.

The Finn, who is still awaiting his maiden DP World Tour title, lost his playing privileges in 2023 but returned to form by finishing 19th in the Road to Mallorca last year.

The 34-year-old equalled his best performance of the 2025 campaign with a tie for 13th at the Hero Indian Open last month, and he improved further with a flawless display at Enhance Anting Golf Club to sit at nine under.

Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra - a first-time winner on the DP World Tour on just his ninth apppearance in New Delhi - is in contention once again after a six-under 65 to be Pulkkanen's closest rival.

"A great start," the Finn said. "My putter was really hot, I think I missed just one putt inside 15 feet. A lot of good putts and solid tee to green. It was a good score.

"I think I was a bit lucky with a couple of putts as well, they went in on the edge of the hole. A solid wedge game, a lot of wedges inside six feet, so I was able to make easy birdies as well.

"I hit my five iron off the tee (on the fourth), one or two clubs too much, and I was quite close to the pin. I tried to hit a low wedge shot to jump forward and it did exactly what I tried, so it was perfect.

"I did some good work back home in Finland, although it was snowing a couple of days. My iron game was good. Overall, everything was awesome."

Starting on the back nine, Pulkkanen got into the red numbers with a birdie at the 11th before adding another at the 14th.

It was at the turn where the World Number 387 hit the birdie trail, rolling in gains at the 17th, 18th and first to sit one behind Chacarra, who was already in the clubhouse at six under.

Pulkkanen joined the Spaniard at the summit at the third with his sixth birdie before he produced a magnificent approach at the fourth, where his wedge into the par-four hole landed five feet left of the pin before hopping sideways into the cup for an eagle two.

That catapulted him into a two-shot lead heading into his final five holes, and he increased his advantage to three at the eighth thanks to a four-foot birdie putt.

Chacarra, also starting at the tenth, got his round under way at the 12th by picking up his first shot, only to give it back at the 13th.

He responded with an immediate birdie at the 14th to get back to one under before adding another at the 16th to reach the turn in 34.

The 25-year-old birdied the first and third to continue his momentum and added another at the seventh. Chacarra finished his first round in style by rolling in from 20 feet to set an initial marker of 65.

China's Zhengkai Bai, who finished with a hat-trick of gains, Australian duo Jason Scrivener and Elvis Smylie, New Zealand's Kazuma Kobori and American Jordan Gumberg all carded 67 to reach four under.

Home favourite Ashun Wu, English pair Matthew Jordan and Jordan Smith, Hong Kong's Taichi Kho, Kiwi Daniel Hillier and Germany's Yannik Paul are all one shot further adrift at three under.

Play was suspended due to darkness at 18:23 (local time) with 13 competitors still to finish their first rounds. Play will resume at 07:15 on Friday morning, with no changes to second round tee times.