Defending champion and veteran professional Danny Chia posted a five-under-par 67 at Saujana Golf & Country Club to take the first-round lead of the Tun Ahmad Sarji Trophy.

Chia who traded six birdies and one bogey on Saujana's Bunga Raya course today, shared that he felt shaky off the tee.

He said: "I didn't drive the ball well today, and it didn't give me the best positions on the par fives."

However, the soon-to-be 52-year-old pulled through the round with his short game.

"My wedge game was solid, and I putted well, so it's safe to say that made up for my bad driving out there. Overall, I'm quite happy with my game today," noted Chia.

Trailing Chia by one is Syahiran Syakir who returned with a four-under-par 68.

Starting off the 10th, Syahiran was six-under through 16 holes after making four birdies and one eagle. 

"It was all about sticking to the plan of hitting fairways and greens, and I would say I stuck to it pretty well," said the Seri Selangor Golf Club ambassador.

However, dropping shots on 8 and 9 pushed him back to second placing. Even so, Syahiran kept his head high and will be looking forward to tomorrow.

"The last two holes were disappointing, to be honest, but it was a still good round and I'll be keeping this momentum throughout the week."

Galven Green shot a three-under-par 69 to be two shots off the lead and currently lies in solo third, followed by Fakhrul Akmal with a 71, alongside Sukree Othman.

Meanwhile, 2023 Camry Cup winner Geraldine Wong topped the Ladies Championship leaderboard after firing a one-under-par 71.

Despite fighting against a persistent cough, the 23-year-old stayed patient out on the course.

"I didn't want to think too much about my condition and focused on what was in my control and what I can do," said Wong who made two birdies against one bogey on her scorecard.

"I did that really well, and it reflected in today's round for me," she added.

Asked about how her game plan will be for the following days, Wong shared that she'll be putting herself in the right spots with the course playing long for her.

"It's mostly long irons and hybrids into the green this week with the course playing long since the conditions are a little soggy out there," said Wong.

"So it's all about staying patient, and placing myself in the right places when I don't hit the green so I can have better chances to make up and down."

Ladies European Tour member Ainil Johani Bakar carded in an even-par-72 to be one shot behind Wong. Next on the leaderboard and sitting in joint third position on two-over-par 74 after round one were Jocelyn Chee, H.Y. Bang, and Aretha Pan.

The second round of the Toyota Tour's Tun Ahmad Sarji Trophy will start with the first groups teeing off at 7:30 AM at Saujana Golf Club's Bunga Raya course.

Leading Round One Scores (Men's)
67 (-5) Danny Chia
68 (-4) Syahiran Syakir
69 (-3) Galven Green
71 (-1) Fakhrul Akmal, Sukree Othman
72 (PAR) Rhaasrikanesh Kanavathi, Nasurllah Zulkifli, Hafiy Suhaili, Amir Nazrin, Brandon Lai, Danial Faidz, Ryan Fernandez

Leading Round One Scores (Ladies)
71 (-1) Geraldine Wong
72 (PAR) Ainil Johani Bakar
74 (+2) Jocelyn Chee, H.Y. Bang, Aretha Pan
74 (+4) Durriyah Damian
80 (+8) Michelle Koh
87 (+15) Tan Ying Ying (a)