SINGAPORE'S Lam Chih Bing emerged as the pacesetter at the RM400,000 Salcon Negeri Masters Invitational, firing a superb seven-under 65 to lead by two strokes at the Seremban International Golf Club yesterday.

His flawless round of seven birdies equalled the course record set by Australia's Unho Park in the tournament's 2007 edition. That year, Park lost in a thrilling playoff against Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines.

Lam, who arrived on a high after finishing runner-up in the Asean Tour's Heritage Malacca Classic last month, sank seven birdies, including three in a row starting at the first hole before adding four more at the sixth, 10th , 11th and 13th.

Last year's runner-up Antonio Lascuna from the Philippines was two strokes behind alongside Thailand's P. Atthaphon on five-under 67.

Locals C.M. Chong and Ahmad Jamil were tied for fourth on 68 with two other players, Mars Pucay of the Philippines and Lu Chien Soon of Taiwan. Danny Chia and Airil Rizman Zahari returned with a 72 and a 71 respectively.

1st rd leading scores (Malaysia unless stated): 65 Lam Chih Bing (Sin); 67 Antonio Lascuna (Phil), P. Attaphon (Thai); 68 Mars Pucay (Phil), Lu Chien Soon (Tai), Chong Chi Ming, Ahmad Jamil; 69 P. Gunasegaran, Chou Hung Nan (Tai), Thaworn Wiranchant (Thai), Anis Hassan, Tseng Shih Hsin (Tai), Chen Po Ming (Tai), Juvic Pagunsan (Phil), Kim Young Jin (S Kor).