Golf: Brier leads 1st round of China Open

2007 China Open winner Marcus Brier of Austria is the early leader in Beijing after carding a 5 under par 67 in the opening round on Thursday.

China's top golfer Liang Wenchong was grouped with former world No.1 and 2010 European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie of Scotland. Liang got a birdie on the second hole and finished the round on par.

Montgomerie bogeyed three holes in the front nine and returned a one-over par 73, six shots off the pace.

Another Chinese golfer Zhang Lianwei started from the 10th hole. He birdied the 11th but couldn't follow up in the later stage of his game due to failing strength. He also finished 1 over and was jointly 36th in a 156-player field.

Brier was aiming for a second China Open title in three years. He fired a 5-under 67, including this chip-in birdie at the 3rd.

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