Mark Brown leads Hong Kong Open by one shot after day one
Mark Brown of New Zealand shot an eight-under 62 to take a one-stroke lead over the field after the opening round of the Hong Kong Open on Thursday 18 November.
Brown, going for his second European Tour victory after winning the 2008 Johnnie Walker Classic, currently sits one shot ahead of Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy and two shots clear of
Jeev Milkha Singh of India.
The 35-year-old New Zealander made no bogeys on the day to go along with eight birdies for the 62. Beginning his round on the 10th hole, Brown made five birdies, including three in a row,
on the back nine and three more on the front nine, his inward nine.
Brown told reporters that one of his good friends is acting as his caddie for the week. "I have a good mate
on the bag this week. I grew up with him at my home course in New Zealand and it has sort of got me back to a few of the things I used to do when I was younger swing-wise."
The 21-year-old McIlroy, ranked tenth in the world, also teed off on the 10th hole and put together an impressive round, which included eight birdies to go along with one lone bogey. The
bogey occurred on the sixth hole when he was forced to play a left-handed shot after hitting it into the woods. McIlroy, as well as Brown, is also searching for his second win on the European Tour after winning the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic.
"It is a great start to the tournament obviously. Going out and shooting a good first round is a great start," he said. "You
always feel you can do better. I let one go on the sixth, which was my only bogey of the day."
Singh only managed one birdie on his front nine but was on fire coming in. Over his last nine holes, he birdied six of them, including five of his last six. Singh will be looking for his
fourth win on the European Tour, his most recent coming at the 2008 Bank Austria Golf Open.
"The front nine is a tougher nine with two tough par threes in there, and the ninth hole, also," said the 38-year-old. "On
the back nine I made a lot of putts, hit the ball well and shot six-under and I will take a seven-under on this golf course."
Simon Dyson and Soren Hansen sit in a group at six-under, three shots back of Brown. Six players, including U.S. Open champion Graham McDowell, sit at five-under for the event after the
first round.
Other notable scores include a 67 by Ian Poulter while John Daly and Colin Montgomerie both shot 69s.
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