Australian veteran Stephen Leaney returned in the morning to birdie the 18th hole for a six-under-par 66, grabbing the first round lead at the Indonesia Open on Friday morning.

Gaganjeet Bhullar of India launched his title defence by signing for a 67, highlighted by a hole-in-one on 12, to trail by one shot in second place alongside local hope Danny Masrin at the Pondok Indah Golf Course.

A host of eight players, including American Johannes Veerman, Tirawat Kaewsiribandit of Thailand and Rory Hie of Indonesia, shared fourth place on matching 68s at the US$300,000 Asian Tour event.

The 48-year-old Leaney, who enjoyed a tied-20th place finish in Fiji two months ago, claimed his first win in 13 years on home soil last week and is chasing for a maiden title on the Asian Tour.

Bhullar fired three birdies in his opening six holes before stumbling with a double-bogey on the seventh hole to turn in 35. The 29-year-old Indian, however, capped a solid back-nine 32, highlighted by a birdie-birdie-hole in one-birdie run from the 10^th hole.

A total of 28 players resumed their opening rounds at 6.10am on Friday.