Dodd fired a round of 65, including an eagle on the long 12th following an inspired three wood.

He shares the top spot with Taiwan's Wang Ter-Chang, Swedes Marten Olander and Klas Eriksson, Zimbabwe's Tony Johnstone, overnight leader Jyoti Randhawa of India and Norway's Henrik Bjornstad.

They are closely followed a stroke back by Frenchman Thomas Levet and America's Clay Devers.

The headlines, however, belonged to Ireland's Peter Lawrie after he recorded the first hole in one of the new European Tour season.

Teetering on the cut at one under par, he holed his five iron from the eighth tee.

He followed that up with a stunning eagle at the next hole, sinking an 18-foot putt to go five under.

"The hole in one and the eagle certainly got the round going," he said.

"Nobody but my playing partners and the caddies saw the hole in one but that does not matter. It landed close to the hole and rolled in."

Of the big names, England's Nick Faldo is just four strokes off the lead after a round of 65.

The former world number one had looked in danger of missing the cut in the $450,000 tournament at level par with just eight holes left to play.

But a birdie at the 11th, an impressive eagle at the next and another birdie at the 15th rescued his cause.

Defending champion Jose Maria Olazabal ended the day at four under after his round of 65.