Kuala Lumpur, February 12: For all the quality golf that was produced during round one of the Maybank Malaysian Open no-one can dispute that game 15, containing Noh Seung-Yul and Alex Noren, was the match of the day as the pair carded a combined total of 19 under par.

Noh, a 17 year old sensation from Korea, just edged out his playing partner Noren by posting a stunning ten under par 62 to take the outright lead at the Saujana Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, but the Swede was hot on his heels with his own outstanding nine under 63.

Indeed, there were numerous moments of concentrated brilliance as Noh, one of the Asian Tour's youngest ever winners (he won the Midea China Classic aged 17 last year) and Noren produced 19 birdies and not a single dropped shot between them in their opening 18 holes.

"I didn't make any mistakes today and I putted really well to post a good score. I'm happy but you don't win a tournament on the first day," said Noh.

"Alexander played well at the start of the round. I wasn't thinking of beating him but I just tried to catch him during the round. He pushed me along."

Noren certainly acknowledged the young Korean's brilliance, saying: "He is unbelievable. Our first hole was the tenth and he hit his tee shot way right and I thought to myself he might be a little bit nervous. Next thing I know he knocks it on the green and makes the putt for birdie. Obviously he wasn't too nervous!"

Noh is already dreaming of playing on The European Tour - an opportunity he would create instantly if he could win the co-sanctioned Maybank Malaysian Open.

"If I win, I would play in Europe," said the 17 year old. "I want to enjoy what I'm doing as a professional golfer. At the same time, I want to try to become the best player in the world. That's my ultimate goal."

While Noren came closest to catching Noh at the top of the leaderboard, Frenchman Jean-François Lucquin and China's Liang Wen-Chong kept themselves well in the hunt with opening scores of seven under par 65, while England's Nick Dougherty produced a rousing birdie-par-birdie-eagle finish to leap to six under alongside Australian Adam Blyth and home favourite Danny Chia of Malaysia.

"It was good and I played really well," said Dougherty. "To finish the way I did always helps. I hit two great shots into the last - driver, three wood, both out of my boots as well - and nearly holed my second so it was a very pleasing finish. I played better than I was scoring on the front nine but it paid me back over the last few holes."

Chia was delighted to be back in contention in his national Open, commenting: "I putted well and I was lucky in a few holes. I missed a putt on the fifth hole which cost me a bogey but everything turned around from there and I was putting well again.

"It was really hot. I'm pretty lucky as it didn't rain which was the main thing I was worried about. I've got to make sure I complete my round tomorrow without any interruptions."