Richard McEvoy had always looked up in awe at Nick Faldo, but the roles were reversed as the qualifying school graduate produced a stunning opening round to lead the Omega Hong Kong Open.

In his first tournament as a fully-fledged member of the European Tour since winning the six-round qualifying school in Spain last month, McEvoy carded an eight under par 62 to finish four shots clear of the field and equal Faldo's course record.

McEvoy's performance was arguably better than Faldo's 13 years ago given the changes made to toughen up the course.

McEvoy showed composure beyond his 24 years not to let a bogey on the 12th worry him and instead hit back to birdie three of the last five holes before hailing Faldo's influence.

''Faldo's always had great rhythm and I tried to copy that,'' said McEvoy, from Shoeburyness, Essex.

''I was in awe of him really. In the time I was growing up he was the man."

McEvoy left a ten-foot putt short by a whisker on the 17th, but he finished with a curling birdie putt on the last to seal a sensational start to the new season.

''I have had a 62 on the Challenge Tour, but to start like this on the European Tour is just amazing.''

Now it will be a test of his temperament, but he promised the occasion will not get to him.

''I feel comfortable being at the top of the leaderboard. This week is obviously a little bit different with the quality of players that are out here but I feel confident,'' he said.

It was a good day for the qualifying school graduates, with Scotland's Steven O'Hara and South African Desvonde Botes enjoying their time in the Hong Kong sun.

O'Hara, McEvoy's Walker Cup team-mate from 2001, finished with a four under 66.

''It was good to start strongly,'' he said. ''I still have a bit of momentum from the tour school as I played pretty well there.''

Botes, who birdied his 108th and final hole at the qualifying school to gain his card, did not drop a shot all day to finish tied on three under with experienced pair Padraig Harrington and Barry Lane.

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke dropped two shots on the homeward nine to finish on two under par, level with former champions Jose Maria Olazabal (2001) and Fredrik Jacobson (2002).

Clarke will be disappointed, but Jacobson believes a 68 is enough to remain firmly in the hunt.

''I am quite happy. I think I am in a good position now. The greens are much firmer this year so I don't think the scores will be as low as last year, so a couple of under leaves me there or thereabouts,'' he said.