Dubai: Mark Tullo carded a stunning four-under par 68 to move into the first round lead at the Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final at Al Badia Golf Club on Wednesday.

The in-form Tullo fired six birdies and an eagle to move one shot clear at the summit, continuing an astounding run of form for the Chilean, which has yielded five 10 tens in his last six events, including back-to-back tied third finishes in the two events prior to the Challenge Tour’s season finale in Dubai.

The 36-year-old started the week sixth place in the Challenge Tour Rankings but the title of Challenge Tour Number One is still within his reach if he were to emerge victorious at the breathtaking Al Badia Golf Club and other results went his way.

Tullo was delighted with his round, which set a new course record after the course was subject to big changes since last year’s inaugural edition, and is feeling more confident with his game than ever before. “It was a good day out there. I had a couple of mistakes out on the greens but you make some and you miss some. It was a solid round. I hit it good off the tee and hit my irons pretty close,” he said.

“It wasn’t the easiest of days, the wind was blowing a little bit and there were some tricky shots but I played really solid.”

Tullo has already earned enough prize money this season to guarantee that he will be playing on The European Tour next season but he revealed that he has no intention of taking his foot off the gas this week.

“You tend to relax when you’ve secured your cards but I’m a very competitive kind of guy and I try to do the best that I can every tournaments, wherever I am in the Rankings,” he continued.

“Obviously, it does help that guys in my situation are more relaxed and we can go at every pin. It does make a difference to being outside the cut line.

“Once I reached that number, which secured my European Tour card, I just wanted to keep on going and I could have been up there challenging for the title the last three weeks so I’m right there. I’m just trying to play the best golf I can.”

Max Orrin, who secured his spot in this week’s field courtesy of his win at the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic last week, was another player to keep riding the wave of momentum as he fired an opening round three under 69 to lie in a share of second place with Lasse Jensen and Oliver Farr.

“I’ve obviously got no experience of a win and then playing the next week but it’s been fun and difficult at the same time,” said the 20-year-old former Walker Cup player.