Hong Kong (My Sportsbook) - China's Liang Wen-chong and Richard Sterne of South Africa both shot six-under 64 to share the first-round lead Thursday at the Hong Kong Open.
Chinese Taipei's Lin Wen-tang and Frankie Minoza of the Philippines stood one shot back at five-under 65, while European Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson of England led a four-way tie at four-under 66.
Overall, there were 44 players who were within five shots of the leaders after the first round at Hong Kong Golf Club. They included John Daly (68), Colin Montgomerie (68), Bernhard Langer (69), Paul Lawrie (69) and Jose Maria Olazabal (69).
Liang, the No. 1 player in China and the Asian Tour's 2007 Order of Merit champion, started strong on the 10th tee with a birdie. He made three more birdies on his first nine holes -- at the 12th, 13th and 18th -- to make the turn in 32 shots.
He would also shoot a 32 on the shorter front nine, making back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth holes and another birdie at the eighth. He squandered an opportunity to hold the overnight lead by himself, however, after stumbling to a closing bogey at his last hole.
Liang -- still with three rounds to play -- will be seeking Asia's first win at this tournament since Kang Wook-soon titled in 1998. It is the second event of the European Tour's 2009 season (and is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour).
"My performance was good, but there are still three days left," said Liang. "My putting feels good and I have been very patient in taking every hole step by step."
Sterne played in a later group off the first tee and made four birdies in his first six holes to climb up the leaderboard. But his round took a bad turn with back-to-back bogeys at the eighth and ninth holes.
He played without a mistake on the back nine, however, making four more birdies to join Liang in a share of the lead.
"I had a pretty good start and I just kept going," said Sterne.
Wilson, who lost a playoff to Sergio Garcia at the HSBC Champions two weeks ago, had seven birdies and three bogeys Thursday and was perhaps the best- known player near the top of the leaderboard.
He was joined at 66 by Francesco Molinari, Chawalit Plaphol and Wang Ter- chang.
Daly, the two-time major champion who is traveling the world without status on any major tour, posted a score in the 60s for just the third time in his last 12 rounds.
"I felt like I putted well," said Daly. "I made five or six one-putts, meaning I hit a lot of greens. I am pretty happy with that."
Michael Campbell (71), defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez (71), Graeme McDowell (71), Paul McGinley (71), Rory Sabbatini (71), Scott Strange (71) and Nick Faldo (72) were among the other top names in the field.
