Brad Kennedy.

Griffin is among several Australians who travelled to Shunde from Scotland after competing in last week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, but he shook off jet-lag with an eagle and eight birdies in a lively round that also included two double-bogeys.

Teeing off at hole 10, the 27-year-old started with a birdie, eagled the par-five 13th and double-bogeyed 14.

He then soared to the top of the leaderboard at seven-under with birdies at 15, 18, one and a hat-trick from holes three to five, but doubled the seventh before joining Kennedy as a clubhouse leader following a birdie at the par-five ninth.

"I'm rapt. It was a really good round. I'm only disappointed with the two double-bogeys, but I can't really complain as I holed a lot of putts, so it probably all evens out," said Griffin, who finished joint fifth in the Thailand Open in August.

"It's that type of course as there are birdie opportunities if you hit the fairways, but you can get into trouble if you miss the fairway."

Griffin was the world's third-ranked amateur in 2008 before turning pro that year. He has won tournaments in Fiji, but is still looking for his first OneAsia win.