Jake Higginbottom holds an outright lead after the opening round of the Yeangder Heritage tournament in Chinese Taipei.

The 23-year-old battled to a 4-under 68 in blustery conditions to take a one shot lead on the field heading in to round two. He returned with five birdies against one bogey on a rain and wind swept day at the National Golf Country Club.

“I played really solid out there. I only had one bogey but that’s okay because it was tough out there,” Higginbottom said.

“It was challenging but the fairways are still wide so it was forgivable.”

Higginbottom finished in 83^rd place on the 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit to lose his card for 2016. He returned to the Asian Tour Qualifying School earlier this year where he finished in a share of fifth place.

“I lost my Tour card for last year so I was just playing on the local circuit. I went back to Qualifying School again at the start of the year and got my card back so I’m trying to get back on track again.

“You don’t want to go back to Qualifying School, ever. Hopefully I can keep plodding along and be there on Sunday.”

The New South Wales local and former New Zealand Open Champion has made adjustments to his driving game, clearly paying off in the tough conditions.

“I’ve been working hard and driving the ball a lot better. I’m putting the ball in play so it is a lot easier hitting from the fairways than from the trees (laughs).”

Higginbottom is searching for a first Asian Tour victory this week. His best finish on the Asian Tour was a tied fourth result at the 2014 Dubai Open, a 12^th place finish in the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth in February certainly proving he can hold his own against the Asian Tour stars.