High Fives for Ex-Champion Brier at Volvo China Open
16/04/2009
Austrian Markus Brier, Volvo China Open champion in 2007 posted an early five-under-par 67 to lead the 2009 Volvo China Open by one, but for defending champion Damien McGrane and debutant Colin Montgomerie, it could all have been so different on the opening day of the Crystal Anniversary of the event.
Under bright blue skies but with a tricky wind, the ‘Crystal Anniversary Volvo China Open got underway at CBD International Golf Club and it was an early starter, 2007 champion Markus Brier who posted a score that would not be bettered all day to top the leaderboard on five-under-par, one ahead of Nick Dougherty and US-based Australian David McKenzie.
“Going out early can be an advantage,” said Brier, who teed-off at 7am, adding, “The greens have not had spikes on them and the weather was quite calm, whereas in the afternoon, the wind can get up and the greens deteriorate a little.”
The first round leader added, “You can never win a tournament on the first day but you can certainly lose it, so I’m very happy with my early progress.”
Dougherty and McKenzie are a single shot behind the Austrian, with 2000 Volvo China Open champion Simon Dyson and Thai star Chapchai Nirat a shot further back.
Defending champion Damien McGrane was flying along on five-under-par until he came to the Par-4 14th when disaster struck, the Irishman having four attempts to get out of a fairway bunker resulting in a four-over-par eight.
McGrane eventually signed for a level par 72, the same mark as his Chinese playing partner Liang Wenchong whilst the third member of the group, Colin Montgomerie shot a one-over-par 73 despite getting off to the best possible start with a birdie three at the first.
Like McGrane, Montgomerie had bunker trouble, but he extricated himself well, especially at the last where he chipped-in from a greenside bunker and said afterwards, “I was in too many bunkers. My iron play was terrible and it’s just as well my bunker play was okay. I was in eight of them and managed to get up and down from seven of them was good.”
Another of the favoured players, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee had trouble at the ninth, his last hole, three-putting form three feet to end a promising round on two-under-par.
“It could, and should have been so much better,” said Thongchai.
With the weather set fair and the leaderboard finely poised, spectators should enjoy an enthralling day’s golf as the leaders look to improve their position and the rest seek to make the halfway cut.
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