Wen-chong, Sterne set pace in Hong Kong

2008-11-20

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By Gary Rose Special to PA SportsTicker

HONG KONG (Ticker)—China’s Liang Wen-chong and South African Richard Sterne share a one-stroke lead after carding impressive opening rounds at the UBS Hong Kong Open on Thursday.

Liang, bidding to become the first Asian player to win the event in a decade, carded a 6-under-par 64 and would have taken the outright lead if not for a bogey on the ninth, his final hole.

After seven birdies, Liang reached the green on the par-4 ninth in two but then three-putted for a bogey.

“My performance (Thursday) was good but there are still three days left,” Liang said. “My putting feels good and I have been very patient in taking every hole step by step.”

Sterne, who carded eight birdies and two bogeys, has not won on the European Tour since the 2008 Joburg Open and is hoping to produce a consistent performance to give himself a chance on Sunday.

“I had a pretty good start and I just kept going,” Sterne said. “From the Masters on I have really struggled but I am still working on a few things.

“I am not all that comfortable, there are a couple of good things here and there but I have just been very erratic to be honest.”

Despite a field which contains six major champions, it was Asian golfers who dominated on Thursday as Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang and Frankie Minoza of the Philippines finished one stroke back of the leaders at 5-under.

England’s Oliver Wilson, who lost in a playoff to Sergio Garcia at the HSBC Champions recently, sank a birdie putt from eight feet on the 18th to ensure he is within reach of the top of the leaderboard at 4-under.

Wilson carded seven birdies against three bogeys to share fifth place with Thai Chawalit Plaphol, Wang Ter-chang of Chinese Taipei and Italian Francesco Molinari.

“It was a pleasant round,” Wilson said. “I am pleased with the finish and if I can stay up there all week it will be nice to be in contention again.”

Two-time major winner John Daly enjoyed a solid round with a 2-under 68, finishing four shots off the lead.

“I felt like I putted well,” the 42-year-old Daly said. “I made five or six one putts, meaning I hit a lot of greens. I am pretty happy with that.”

Colin Montgomerie also made a solid if unspectacular start with a 68 as he looks to earn a second title in three years.

Playing in his first European Tour event in over a year, Nick Faldo reeled off three successive birdies starting with the second hole. But, three bogeys and a double bogey on the par-3 eighth meant the 51-year-old finished at 2-over.

Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez will need to improve on Friday after a disappointing round in which the Spaniard managed just two birdies and three bogeys en route to a 1-over 71.