Liang & Loar lead with 62s - TCL Classic 2006

Local sensation Liang Wen-chong and American Edward Loar were in smashing form with matching 10-under-par 62s for the joint first round lead in the TCL Classic on Thursday.

The leading pair bettered the previous course record of 63 set by Malaysia 's Danny Chia in 2003 and Ireland 's Paul McGinley last year at the resplendent Yalong Bay Golf Club on this holiday island south of China .

Liang, bidding for his maiden Asian Tour triumph, and Loar lead by one stroke over Australian Andrew Buckle , Sweden 's Joakim Haeggman and South African Waren Abery. England 's David Howell, the HSBC Champions Tournament winner, is sixth after shooting a 64 in the US$1 million event jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Mardan Mamat, who won on home soil when he clinched the OSIM Singapore Masters on Sunday, began his campaign with a solid 68 and was tied 31st.

Defending champion Paul Casey of England was tied seventh while India 's Rahil Gangee , Thailand 's Prayad Marksaeng and Chinese Taipei's Wang Ter-chang shared 11 th position alongside seven other players that included Singapore Masters runner-up Nick Dougherty of England .

Liang, a three-time China amateur champion, was delighted with his o pen ing round. “ I would firstly like to thank my elder brother Wen-Jiang who was caddieing for me. Last year when he was caddieing for me, we won twice,” said Liang.

Backed by brotherly love, Liang, who started on the front nine, enjoyed a blemish-free round. He shot birdies on the first, third, fourth and seventh holes. He remained formidable on the back nine as he fired birdies on the 10 th and 12 th holes before closing the round in style with four consecutive birdies from the 14 th hole.

“I realised I had a chance on going really low when I was playing the 14 th and then made four birdies in a row. That was the first time I thought I could have a really low score and started telling myself to put the ball in the right position to attack the flag,” said the Chinese.

“I then holed a 25 yard putt on the 15 th which was one of the biggest putts I have holed right across the green. To make four in a row was fantastic,” he said.

Meanwhile, it was a dream start for Loar, a two time winner in Asia , who birdied the o pen ing hole on the back nine. He then fired an eagle on the par five 13 th hole followed by a birdie on the 14 th hole. He dropped a shot on the 15 th but bounced back with birdies on the 16 th and 18 th holes.

“It is a great way to start the week. When you come out here, especially on a day like today, you know you have to make birdies and keep making them,” said Loar.

Loar, who has won the Thailand and Korean O pen s previously, sizzled on the front nine as he shot four birdies and ended the round with a final birdie on the ninth hole, his best ever start in a tournament.

“The scoring is going to be really good. The greens are perfect, there is quite a bit of room to hit it. You get yourself in the mindset of let's get going and I got it going,” he said.

“We had a breath of wind about halfway round and a sprinkle the last few holes bit nothing that is going to make that big a difference. Maybe half a club on certain shots but nothing to worry about,” said Loar.

Buckle, who is currently sixth on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit, also produced a stunning bogey-free round. Buckle, runner-up in the Enjoy Jakarta HSBC Indonesia O pen two weeks ago, carded seven birdies before striking an eagle at the par five 16 th hole.

“I played well all week in Jakarta but just one bad hole and I am still not sure how it happened but that is golf. Just keep playing and doing what I am doing, I am enjoying my golf at the moment which is the main thing,” said Buckle.