NEW DELHI, April 4, 2013 (AFP) - Leading the pack alongside Australia's Wade Ormsby and Kieran Pratt, Lam, who lost his Asian Tour card last season, said he was determined to claw his way back into the region's elite.
"Losing my tour card last season was disappointing but I hope to make it up this season with performances like this," said Lam.
"It wasn't easy out there. It was the most windy round that I've ever played in at Delhi Golf Club. The winds were swirling and I got lucky quite a few times today," said Lam, who traded six birdies against one bogey, in an Asian Tour press release.
S.S.P. Chowrasia brought local cheers when he emerged as the leading Indian on 69 to take fourth place, while Thailand's Boonchu Ruangkit, a five-time Asian Tour winner, is among seven players tied for fifth place on 70.
Pratt said he was looking for a second victory following his win in Myanmar last year.
"I've been building a lot of confidence with my ball-striking and that's pretty important around Delhi Golf Club," he said.
"It has been a while since my last win and you get that itch where you want to win again."
Starting on the back-nine 10th, the Australian got his campaign under way with three birdies on holes 11, 14 and 18.
An eagle-three on the par-five first then propelled him to the top of the leaderboard where he held on to the lead before closing with 67.
Panasonic Open India 1st round leading scores on Thursday:
67 - Wade Ormsby (AUS), Kieran Pratt (AUS), Lam Chih Bing (SIN)
69 - S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND)
70 - Adam Groom (AUS), Boonchu Ruangkit (THA), Jay Bayron (PHI), Chiragh Kumar (IND), Lionel Weber (FRA), Angad Cheema (IND), Sanjay Kumar (IND).