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| April 14, 2006 | Friday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 15, 1427 |
Cevaer overcomes hot start to take one shot lead
BEIJING, April 13: Frenchman Christian Cevaer shot an opening six-under-par 66 to take a one-shot lead over a chasing six-man pack at the 1.8-million dollar China Open Thursday.
Cevaer got off to a hot start in spite of his chilly early morning tee-off.
He carded three birdies in his first seven holes at Beijing's Honghua International Golf Club, including holing a 30-foot bunker shot on the third.
Three more birdies on the back nine around the challenging par-72 7,203-yard Nick Faldo-designed course cemented his place atop the first round leaderboard at the co-sanctioned Asian Tour and European Tour event.
Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Sweden's Peter Hanson, Jose-Filipe Lima of Portugal, and Englishmen Ross Fisher, Simon Wakefield and Simon Dyson were a shot further back after shooting 67s in the windy but sunny conditions.
Defending champion Paul Casey recorded a one-under 71 to remain in sight of the leaders. But Sweden's Henrik Stenson, the pre-tournament favourite, had a day to forget, carding a 73 after struggling to get any sort of rhythm going.
Matters weren't helped when a spectator pocketed his ball after an errant three-wood tee shot on the 446-yard ninth found trouble on the right. Fortunately for him he was allowed to replace the ball without penalty where it had been seen coming to rest, but it did little to help his mood.
The day, however, belong to Cevaer, the 2004 Canarias Open de Espana champion seeking his second career European Tour victory.
The 36-year-old said he was delighted with his bogey-free round and his form of late.
“I just swung it beautifully and felt great all the way round,” said the New Caledonia-born Frenchman, who finished tied 11th and tied 16th in Madeira and Portugal respectively last month.
“One key of the round today for me was my fine bunker play because I got it up and down four times and also holed my bunker shot for a birdie on the third.” Cevaer, who is not one of golf's power hitters, said he liked the fact that the layout rewarded good course management.
One person sure to be breathing down his neck on Friday is Dyson, a former graduate of the Asian Tour. The 28-year-old is brimming with confidence after securing his maiden European Tour victory in March at the Indonesian Open.
“Every time I come back now (to Asia) there is an extra bit of confidence in myself,” he said.
India's Rahil Gangjee and 24-year-old Australian Jarrod Lyle, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 1999 and confined to a hospital bed for nine months, were the leading Asian Tour representatives, shooting 68s.
Englishmen Miles Tunnicliff and David Lynn were also four off the pace.
Chinese number one Zhang Lianwei, however, was unable to take advantage of the support from the home galleries, recording a one-over-par 73. But it was somewhat better than his fellow countryman Xia Zhengrong who carded an 89.
Leading first round scores
66 - Christian Cevaer
67 - Ross Fisher, Simon Dyson, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano,
Peter Hanson, Simon Wakefield, Jose Filipe Lima
68 - Miles Tunnicliff, David Lynn, Rahil Gangjee , Jarrod Lle69 - Brett Rumford, Danny Chia, Wang Ter-Chang, Prayad Mrksaeng, Simon Yates, Joakim Backstrom
70 - Richard Bland, Robert-Jan Derksen, Marcus Fraser
Ignacio Garrido, Jamie Spence , Paul Dwyer, Robert Coles, Adam Blyth, Jason Knutzon.-—AFP
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