China’s Liang Wen-Chong thrilled the galleries in the opening round of the TCL Classic with a stunning ten under par 62 to equal the course record set earlier in the day by American Edward Loar.
On a day of incredible low scoring at Yalong Bay Golf Club on the Chinese holiday island of Hainan, Swede Joakim Haeggman posted a nine under par 63 to lie alongside fellow European Tour Member Warren Abery of South Africa and Australian Andrew Buckle with tournament favourite David Howell of England a shot further back.
Defending champion Paul Casey was also pleased with his day’s work to lie in the group on seven under par 65.
With his elder brother caddieing for him, Liang led the home challenge in the event jointly sanctioned by The European Tour and the Asian Tour by taking full advantage of the benign conditions in the South China Sea. Ten birdies without a dropped shot, including four in a row from the 14th, took the 27 year old to the top of the leaderboard.
It is an event that he clearly relishes playing in as it was in the first TCL Classic in 2002 that he achieved his first hole in one on his way to finishing third, the highest placing by a Chinese player in the TCL Classic.
Liang has been touted as the next Chinese golfing star after winning three successive Chinese Amateur titles from 1996 and five events on the China Tour since turning professional in 1999. He has won twice with his brother on the bag.
And on the opening day of the TCL Classic he upstaged many of the game’s stars with a flawless display.
“I realised I had a chance on going really low when I was playing the 14th 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. I then holed a 25 yard putt on the 15th which was one of the biggest putts I have holed right across the green. To make four in a row was fantastic.”
Liang also benefited from playing with Nick Dougherty, who posted a six under par 66, in particular the way the Englishman responded to a double bogey on the fifth.
“I feel very honoured to play with such a world-class player as Nick Dougherty and he inspired me as we went around. After he double bogeyed he still played aggressively. The positive attitude he had taught me a lot. It showed that we all make mistakes but watching him bounce back helped me. It is a very precious experience for Chinese players to play with such world-class players it is something I will never forget.”
Loar set the new course record earlier in the day when the left hander, the only lefty on the Asian Tour, came in with a ten under par 62 to shave a stroke off the old course record. Nine birdies and an eagle filled his card.
“It is a great way to start the week,” said Loar, runner-up in the UBS Hong Kong Open at the end of last year. “When you come out here, especially on a day like today, you know you have to make birdies and keep making them. 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.”
Haeggman looked as if he could go even lower after racing to eight under par through 12 holes but he lost his momentum after a long wait on the 13th tee and made only one birdie in the last six holes.
Nevertheless he continues the good form from last week where he finished joint 13th despite a horror finish where he dropped three shots in the last three holes.
“The first 12 holes was excellent golf,” said Haeggman. “I hit a few bad tee shots on the last six holes but got away with them. Like on the 17th where I almost drove in the water hazard and managed to chip and putt for my four. Also on the 18th a bad tee shot but managed to get up and down. I need to keep my driving more under control but excellent over the first 12 players.”
Abery, who won his European Tour card last November when he birdied the last two holes at the Qualifying School, continued his run of form which helped him win the Nashua Masters on the Sunshine Tour last month with a nine under par 63.
World Number 14 Howell lived up to his favourite billing with an impressive eight under par opening score, rolling in ten birdies with two dropped shots to lie amongst the leaders.
“It is always nice to start with a couple of birdies,” said Howell. “I had a couple of bogeys thrown in which was slightly frustrating as you never want to give a shot back out there as it is just playing so easy. You feel you are losing your momentum. But ten birdies and it was a lot of fun.”
Casey was also pleased with his day’s work as he launched his defence of the title with two eagles and two birdies.
“I’m very happy with that.,” said Casey. “It was very productive. Just the start I wanted. I had nice, calm conditions this morning and took advantage of that. It is rare to have two eagles in a round – I can’t remember the last time I did that – and I am looking forward to the next three rounds if that golf continues.
“I hit 17 greens in regulation and lots of chances. If I can say a little frustrated with seven under, it is rare to be able to say that but today was one of those days. I had a lot of opportunities and a lot of putts that slipped by but that just bodes well for the rest of the week. If I can continue to hit the golf ball like that and continue to give myself chances it is almost nice relaxing golf.”
