2006 China Tour Omega Championship - Round 1: Home Sweet Home for Liang, leading by two

After spending half a year based in Japan, Liang Wenchong made the most of his first tournament day back in China, taking a two-shot lead after the first round of the Omega Championship at Beijing's Tianan Golf Club.

Liang's 70 was the only round in red numbers, but Li Chao took a share of second place with an even-par 72 together with a significant lead over Zhang Lianwei in their two-way battle for the 2006 Omega Order of Merit. Li, who has to finish in the top two to retain his crown, holds a six-shot advantage over Zhang

"I feel like I've come home. After being away from the Omega China Tour for six months, it was so good to see everybody again," said 28-year-old Liang, whose last tournament on the Mainland was back in April.

"If I could have had more luck on the greens I could have gone lower. The only bogey that I had on 16 was a major contest with the golf course, because I got my distance measurements wrong. I hit an eight-iron into the bunker in front of the green. With this mistake I can feel that this is a really challenging course that forces you to think and to plan every shot. It's an interesting course."

Li's even par round was partly down to a close shave with the rule book. Having tentatively assessed a two-stroke penalty against himself for repairing a pitch mark in the vicinity of his ball on the apron of the eighth green, he escaped punishment only after a lengthy re-enactment after his round with the tournament referees.

At the turn, he had to imagine he was four-over par, adding the penalty onto three bogeys and a birdie. But he pulled back two shots on a back nine comprised of three birdies and a bogey and saved two more when the post-mortem turned out in his favour.

"72 is not a bad start, although I missed a couple of birdie chances," said the relieved 26-year-old.

"Overall I enjoyed my round, because I found it to be a challenging course, but good looking too. On top of that the greens are very difficult although they're very well maintained. Compare with it with the southern courses it's quite different; I like fast greens rather than the slower ones in the south. I enjoyed my putting this time. I think I'll be able to get it going here."

Li might also have enjoyed seeing the six shot advantage he holds over Zhang. Realistically , he needs to win and for Zhang to have an uncharacteristically poor result if he's to win the Omega Order of Merit. Zhang's first round 78 has left him with some ground to make up, after the Guangdong native struggled on what would easily be the coldest day of the year back in his sub-tropical home province.

"I was too cold in the morning. I couldn't get going," he said succinctly.

Zhang's playing partner, Huang Mingjie, was more talkative. The 25-year-old, the revelation of the 2006 season, had a seven-over-par 79 for his worst round for five months.

"Zhang and I both putted horribly. We all had a lot of three putts. Zhang also didn't drive accurately enough. He went all over the place and was always struggling to save par. I think we all had a horrible day," Huang explained shaking his head ruefully.

Far happier was Liao Guiming, who shares second place with Li, after saving his day with late birdies on the 13 th and 15.

"This is not a long course, but with this kind of weather plus the fact that we're all dressed heavily it has lengthened the course and shortened the distances we're hitting. It's not an easy course like everyone suggested it would be. I was hitting 7 or 8 irons for the second shot on the par fours. It's not the driver and wedge game we might have expected. I don't think anybody will shoot really low, so I'm happy with my 72."

A shot further back are two fast friends from Guangdong; Richard Qui Zhifeng, the 2005 Kunming Leg winner, and his protégé Tony Tan Yongzong. The leading amateur, Canadian-based 16-year-old James Su Dong, has a share of sixth place after a three-over par 75.

2006 Omega Championship

Leading First Round scores - (Par 72)

70 – Liang Wenchong

72 – Li Chao, Liao Guiming

73 – Richard Qiu Zhifeng, Tony Tan Yongzong

74 – Deng Yonghong, Shi Ningjie, Zhang Wei, Zhou Xunshu

75 – Liu Anda, Jimmy Qi Zengfa, James Su Dong (A)

76 – Liu Guojie, Liu Qiang, Shang Lei, Wu Weihuang, Wu Xujun, Zheng Shaoguang

77 – Chen Yu, Fu Tai, Lü Wenxu Meng Qingpeng, Xiao Zhijin, Zhou Zhenbin

October 26, 2006