SINGAPORE'S Lam Chih Bing is the surprise leader after a barnstorming start to the first round of the Barclays Singapore Open on Thursday.

The 31-year-old is at four-under-par after the 13th hole, before torrential rain and lightning cut short the play at noon.

Lam is three strokes clear of the rest of the field, many of whom struggled to keep par in the soaking conditions at Sentosa's Serapong golf course.