World-ranked 1,426 takes China Open golf lead

BEIJING: China’s world-ranked 1,426 Jin Daxing grabbed a shock lead after the first round of the $3.2 million China Open on Thursday in just his eighth European Tour event.

The 25-year-old fired a bogey-free eight-under-par 64 for a one-shot lead over England’s Matt Wallace and Nino Bertasio of Italy at Topwin Golf and Country Club in Beijing. Sweden’s Alexander Bjork and Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe shared fourth, a further shot back. But the day belonged to little-known Jin, who has only made the cut once on a European Tour event, back on his debut in 2012.

“I played really well today,” he told europeantour.com. “I’m really happy with my form and I have to say I would give myself 100 marks for today’s round.

“I’ve been relaxed coming into this week because I don’t have too much expectation but I’ll just keep playing one stroke at a time, one day at a time and see how it goes for me.”

Last year’s China Open winner, Alexander Levy of France, carded a three-underpar 69 for a share of 18th.

Levy is chasing back-to-back European Tour wins — and eyeing a Ryder Cup spot on home soil — after triumphing last week in Morocco.

Another home hope, the highly promising Li Haotong, was tied 33rd after his firstround 70. Japan’s Hideto Tanihara won himself a car after nailing a 197-yard hole-inone at the 16th on the way to shooting a 72. — AFP