Liang enjoys US Invitational debut

Chinese ace Liang Wen-chong, making his debut on the US PGA Tour, held his own in the first round of The International with two birdies against three bogeys on Thursday.

Liang, who turned 28 last week, achieved one point in the Modified Stableford scoring system and was in joint 86th position alongside top names like Phil Mickelson and Paul Casey at the Castle Pines Golf Club.

Compatriot Zhang Lian-wei will be eager to improve on his performance as he is on -1 points after the first day. The self-taught Zhang, a five-time winner on the Asian Tour, dropped a shot at the fifth hole but recovered with two consecutive birdies at the sixth and seventh holes before stumbling with four more bogeys.

It is the first time that the two Chinese players are featuring together in a US PGA Tour event. Sweden’s Mathias Gronberg leads the field with 13 points after eight birdies against one double bogey.

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit leader, was on the right track when he birdied the first and fifth holes but a bogey on the eighth hole placed him in joint 65th spot. Singh had started on the 10th tee and parred the first nine holes.

Australia’s Kane Webber, the Macau Open winner, had a good start and was tied 32nd with six points. Webber carded four birdies against an equal number of bogeys before his late birdie effort at the par five 17th hole.

On the European Tour, Asian Tour member Simon Dyson of England enjoyed a good start with a 67 in The KLM Open in the Netherlands. He is tied fifth, two shot off the lead.

Australian David Bransdon is a further stroke back while was tied for 24th place after a 69.

Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee carded an even par round for a share of 51st place but it was a tough day for India's Shiv Kapur, who stumbled to a 75.

August 11, 2006

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