China's Liang Wen-Chong hit a five-under par 67 to grab a share of the lead of the Russian Open on Thursday.
England's Simon Dyson and Rikard Karlberg of Sweden also topped the leaderboard after the first day at the Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club.
Dyson, a six-time European Tour winner who has slipped to 164 in the world, made just seven cuts in his first 15 events of 2013.
Best of the Australians were Daniel Gaunt and Scott Hend, three off the pace in a group including New Zealander Michael Campbell.
Former world tennis number one, Yevgeny Kafelnikov carded 81 and looks certain to miss the cut on Friday.
Liang, whose only European Tour title came six years ago in Singapore, carded six birdies against one bogey as he continued the form that took him to third place finishes in Austria and India this season.
"I played really nicely today and hit the ball in very close to a lot of pins so had some fairly easy birdies," said Liang.
"It is a very beautiful course and that stretch of three holes from 11 to 13 are just so beautiful. They are three of the best holes we will play on Tour this year."
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