It was a slightly disappointing opening day for local hopes at this week's US$500,000 Midea China Classic at the Royal Orchid International Club in Guangzhou. After a low-scoring first round, nine different nationalities featured in the top ten, but Chinese mainland's golfers struggled to earn a place among them. Only Kong Weihai, in joint sixth with a four under par 67, featured.

Kong made a storming start with eagle on the par-5 opening hole and birdie on the second, although he gave a stroke back on the par-3 third. Two more birdies on the 5th and 16th gave him his closing total.

However, scoring is tight, with only six strokes separating the top 61, and there are a clutch of home players lurking just behind the leaders. Last week's winner Liang Wenchong is there at 3-under, as is Wu Ashun, the other Chinese player to finish in the money in India, and they are joined by Lin Wentang. Nine more Chinese players are under par, including Zhang Lianwei and amateur Su Dong. None of these will feel they are out of contention.

Alone at the top of the leaderboard were Chinese Taipei's Lu Weichih and Hsu Mongnan in first and second place. Lu opened his campaign at blistering pace by taking the first round lead with a seven-under-par 64. The 29-year old fired a total of eight birdies against a lone bogey to take a one-stroke lead over Hsu, while Scotland's Simon Dunn together with Korea's Noh Seung-yul and Park Jun-won are a further shot back in a tie for third place.

Next come a group of 12 players sharing sixth place. Along with Kong Weihai are Wales' Rhys Davies, Australia's Mitchell Brown, Andrew Dodt, Henry Epstein, Terry Pilkadaris, Richard Moir and Jason King, Chinese Taipei's Chen Yuan-chi, Malaysia's S. Chandhran Siva, Switzerland's Martin Rominger and Singapore's Lam Chih Bing.

Lu, with one Asian Tour victory to his record, shot off the blocks on the front nine. In a performance only one stroke short of Liang Wenchong's opener the previous week, he recorded seven birdies to make the turn in 29. Things calmed down a little on the 10th, where Lu bogeyed, but he won the stroke back with birdie on the 12th and completed his round in pars.

"I'm very happy with my score today. Of course, it would be better if I can do like Liang Wenchong in India when he recorded an opening round score of 60," said Lu.

"My swings and tee shots were all very good today and I hope to continue this good form, going into tomorrow's round," added Lu.

While Lu credited his drivers for his good performance, it was the putter that carried Korean Noh Seung-yul into third place. The Korean looks like a big prospect for the future. Only 17 years old, he already has three runner-up finishes in his rookie year on the Asian Tour, and he staked a claim for his maiden title yesterday with seven birdies and two bogeys in his round of 66.

"I'm pleasantly surprised by my short game today. Every putt that I made went in today and I can only hope that it gets better tomorrow," said Noh.

Switzerland's Martin Rominger, also bidding for his maiden Asian Tour title, put himself into contention too, and credits his family who are all here with him at the Royal Orchid International Golf Club as his lucky charm.

"My family is here with me for the first time in China. In fact, this is the first time that they are all with me this year. Maybe I have to bring them over more often as I tend to play better with them around," said the Swiss.

Singapore's Lam Chih-bing, who made a similar strong start in India only to falter in the final round last week, has vowed to put that behind him and focus on the task ahead.

"I played pretty steady today, made a couple of good putts and was rewarded with six birdies. Give me the same position as last week and I'm sure I'll do better," said the Singaporean.

Liang Wenchong has clearly suffered no hangover from last week's success. He was well-satisfied with his day's work.

"It was a good day out there for me today. I'm playing well and there are still three more rounds to go. I'm not feeling any pressure and there's still everything to play for," said the 2007 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion.

(China.org.cn by David Ferguson October 17, 2008)