Paul Dunne leads the way at the Turkish Airlines Open after a stunning seven-under-par round of 64 on the opening day at the Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort. 

The Irishman, 25, picked up a shot on his first hole and added six more birdies in a bogey-free start in Belek.

Dunne is a shot clear of Padraig Harrington, reigning champion Justin Rose and 2016 winner Thorbjørn Olesen, who also began the week strongly.

This is Dunne’s second appearance at the Turkish Airlines Open and he finished in a share of 23rdplace on his debut last year.

He said: “This is a course I saw for the first time last year and I like it. It sets up nicely for me. I had a couple weeks of practise before, I was hoping to give it a hundred per cent and hopefully I can build on this.”

Rose, who could return to world number one this week, was also bogey free and collected a birdie on 18 to join Harrington and Olesen at six under.

The defending champion said: “The golf course isn't particularly easy. If you hit some good tee shots, you can have some wedges in your hand but the weather is what's making it scorable. It's just absolutely perfect golfing conditions.

“I had good chances out there. Eighteen was lovely. Obviously that green was good to me last year and it was nice to finish and sign off that way.”

Olesen won the first time the Turkish Airlines Open was held at the Regnum Carya in 2016 and also did not have a bogey on his card, playing with Rose and Tommy Fleetwood. 

He said: “ (Rose is) one of the best players in the world by far, and Tommy is also playing incredible. We became pretty good friends at The Ryder Cup, so it was a fun group. There was definitely a lot of good golf shots.”

Last year’s Race to Dubai champion Fleetwood is four off the lead at three under par. 

©Michael Denker-Turkish Airlines