Liang, Sterne lead European greats

Agence France-Presse

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Liang and Sterne shared 15 birdies at the par-70 Fanling course to lead the $2.5 million tournament by a shot from Frankie Minoza of the Philippines and Taiwan's Lin Wen-tang.

Troubled Californian John "Wild Thing" Daly was the best among six Major winners in the field as he shook off serious injury and personal problems for two-under 68, level with eight-time European merit champion Colin Montgomerie.

China's Liang, who enjoyed vocal home support, raised hopes of a first Asian winner at Hong Kong Open in 10 years.

"I will try to be patient. There are another three days ahead, so I'll just try my best every day," Liang said. "Last week we saw an Asian player win the trophy in Singapore so there could be another possibility for an Asian player to win here," he added, referring to the victory of India's Jeev Milkha Singh at the Singapore Open.

Fellow leader Sterne, 27, rattled eight birdies interrupted by two bogeys at the turn on his first ever round at the colonial-era Fanling course after missing Tuesday's practice and Wednesday's Pro-Am.

"I've done it a few times before so I'm not really too fazed about it," he said. "It went pretty well. Sometimes it helps, you don't know where all of the trouble is. I got a pretty good start and just kept going."

England's Oliver Wilson, runner-up for the eighth time at this month's HSBC Champions, raised hopes of a first European Tour win with four-under 66 for joint fifth.

"I think I know how to win on this course," he said. "That might sound strange but it's more of a tactical battle than anything out there."

Meanwhile Scotland's Montgomerie was ebullient after his 68 as he bids to break back into the top 50 after slipping to world number 118.

"Anything in the top 20 on the first day and we're doing well," he said. "I'm looking forward to coming out tomorrow morning and getting a good round under my belt."

Bernhard Langer and Jose Maria Olazabal, winners in 1991 and 2001, both shot 69 to lie alongside fellow Major champion Paul Lawrie of Scotland.