March 17, 2006	Friday	Safar 16, 1427

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SANYA (China), March 16: Local favourite Liang Wen Chong and American Edward Loar carded 10-under-par 62s to share a new course record and the first-round lead at the one-million-dollar TCL Classic on Thursday.

Liang, who is gunning for his first Asian Tour title, and the 28-year-old Loar have a one-shot lead over South African Warren Abery, Sweden’s Joakim Haeggman and Australian Andrew Buckle.

Ryder Cup star David Howell, who leads the European Tour Order of Merit, was one shot further back after carding an eight-under-par 64 around the 7097-yard course at Yalong Bay Golf Club on the southern Chinese island of Hainan.

Defending champion Paul Casey, South African Charl Schwartzel, Ireland’s Stephen Browne and Argentinian Ariel Canete all fired 65s to lie three shots off the pace at the co-sanctioned European and Asian Tour event.

Rising star Nick Dougherty carded a 66 while Irishman Paul McGinley shot 69. China’s top golfer Zhang Lianwei recorded a disappointing level-par 72.

Liang, who is also aiming to become the first Chinese player to win a European Tour title on home soil, chalked up 10 birdies, including four in a row, on his way to the top of the leaderboard.

Liang, who finished third in 2002 here, said playing alongside England’s Dougherty as well as having his brother as a caddie had helped his performance.

Loar, a two-time Asian Tour title winner, said he was delighted with his performance which also leaves him perfectly placed to win his first European Tour title.

Starting on the 10th in ideal conditions, Loar sank a 10-foot putt for birdie followed by routine pars on 11 and 12 before carding an eagle on the 543-yard par-5 13th. He made another eight birdies, including on the 449-yard 18th where he holed 30-foot putt and the par-4 5th where he sank a 35-footer.

First round scores

62 - Edward Loar, Liang Wen Chong

63 - Warren Abery, Joakim Haeggman, Andrew Buckle

64 - David Howell

65 - Ariel Canete, Charl Schwartzel, Paul Casey, Stephen Browne

66 - Prayad Marksaeng, Johan Edfors, Ignacio Garrido, Philip Archer, Ari Savolainen, Soren Hansen, Rahil Gangjee, Daniel Vancsik elm Schauman

67 - Adam Blyth, Simon Yates, Lin Keng-chi, Gregory Havret, James Kingston, Marco Ruiz, Chris Rodgers, Christopher Hanell, Gaurav Ghei.—AFP