Matthew Baldwin outshone fellow Englishman Ian Poulter and Paul Casey on day one of the Volvo China Open.
Challenge Tour grad sets the pace with seven-under 65
Matthew Baldwin outshone fellow Englishmen Ian Poulter and Paul Casey to take the lead after day one of the Volvo China Open.
The 26-year-old, who graduated from the Challenge Tour last year after a late-season win in Spain, seized the initiative at Tianjin's Binhai Lake Golf Club with a bogey-free seven-under 65.
That was six better than Poulter who could only manage a 71 and also put him three in front of Casey, who showed signs of a return to form with a 68.
Baldwin's nearest rivals, a shot back on six-under, are Dutchman Joost Luiten, Aussie Scott Strange, Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, Swede Fredrik Andersson-Hed, South African Jbe Kruger and fellow Englishman Gary Boyd.
Liverpool fan Baldwin, whose grandfather Ronald was an international rugby player in the 1950s, didn't manage to take advantage of any of the par fives but cashed in elsewhere and had eleven 3s on his card.
He said: "It was very good today so I am happy with that.
"My caddie and I set out this morning with a game play of trying to make 18 pars and take our chances when they came, and it turned out to be one of those days where there were a lot of chances and I managed to take a few of them."
Poulter's 71 left him with plenty of work to do but, despite his disappointing start, he's confident he can get going over the final 54 holes.
He tweeted shortly after his round: "Finished 1 under today didn't take advantage of any par 5's today, 3 very silly bogeys. Turn that around around for next 3 days will be fine."
Youngest ever player
China's Guan Tian-lang made history as he became the youngest ever player on the European Tour at the age of 13 years and 173 days.
Guan, who beat the record of compatriot Lo Shik-kai set at the 2003 Hong Kong Open, secured a place in the field after finishing fourth in a qualifying event.
It looked as if his debut would turn into a nightmare after he immediately dropped to last place after playing his first six holes in five over but he made a fine recovery after that.
He birdied the seventh and despite a bogey two holes later he reeled off nine successive pars on the back nine to finish with a 77.
That was just a shot worse than England's Tom Lewis and Scot Stephen Gallacher.
Elsewhere, there were fine four-under 68s for Colin Montgomerie and defending champion Nicolas Colsaerts.
