Damien McGrane heads the Irish challenge after the first round of the Hong Kong Open this morning but still trails leader Jose Manuel Lara by four shots.
McGrane recorded a two-under-par round of 68 as Lara threw down a challenge to defending champion Colin Montgomerie, carding a near flawless six-under 64 to take an early one-stroke lead.
Joint third at the recent Mallorca Classic, Lara did not drop a stroke during his rise to the top of the leaderboard, sinking six birdies to finish one ahead of Graeme Storm and Gregory Bourdy.
New Zealander Michael Campbell remained within striking distance of the leaders after carding a patient 68. The former US Open champion and third place-finisher at last week's Champions tournament settled down after two birdies and two bogies in his first five holes.
Campbell was joined on two-under by experienced Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, who led the field early but disintegrated on the back nine with three bogies on the last four holes.
Thongchai Jaidee, Thailand's first European tour event winner, also remained in the hunt on two-under, recovering from a double-bogey on his first hole to post a five-birdie 68.
Paul McGinley and Peter Lawrie were somewhat off the pace with rounds of 71 while Gary Murphy will be disappointed with his opening 73.
Collated scores
64Jose Manuel Lara (Spa), Jyoti Randhawa (Ind)
65Graeme Storm, Gregory Bourdy (Fra), Liang Wen-Chong (Chn)
66Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind), Jarmo Sandelin (Swe), Jong Yul Suk (Kor), Simon Khan
67David Bransdon(Aus), Jun-Won Park (Kor), Johan Axgren (Swe), Hendrik Burhmann (Rsa), Andrew Buckle (Aus), Lee Sung (Kor), Juvic Pangunsan (Phi)
68Jean Van De Velde (Fra), Scott Strange (Aus), Francesco Molinari (Ita), Bryan Saltus (USA), Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa), Thongchai Jaidee (Tha), Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha), Michael Campbell (Nzl), Martin Kaymer (Ger), Thammanoon Srirot (Tha), Philip Price, Gary Rusnak (USA), Robert-Jan Derksen (Ned), Cesar Monasterio (Arg), Damien McGrane, Rick Gibson, Christian Cevar (Fra)
69Colin Montgomerie, Ross Fisher, Gavin Flint (Aus), Yasin Ali, Anton Haig (Rsa), Lian Wei-Zhang (Chn), Raphael Jaquelin (Fra), Soren Kjeldson (Den), Mark Pilkington, Barry Hume, Jose Filipe-Lima (Por), Adam Groom (Aus), Gary Simpson (Aus), Scott Barr (Aus)
70James Kingston (Rsa), Anthony Kang (USA), Mahal Pearce (Nzl), Gaurav Ghee (Ind), Rahil Gangjee (Ind), Joakim Backstrom (Swe), Scott Drummond, Johan Edfors (Swe), Lin Wen-Tang (Tpe), Steven Jeppesen (Swe), David Carter, Nick Dougherty, Kevin Na (Kor), Terry Pilkadaris (Aus), Mark Foster, Gary Emerson, Lu Wen Teh (Tpe), Kane Webber (Aus), Adam Le Vesconte (Aus), Retief Goosen (Rsa)
71Darren Fichardt (Rsa), Chawalit Plaphol (Tha), Markus Brier (Aut), James Hepworth, Martin Erlandsson (Swe), Chris Rodgers, David Freeman (Hkg), Alejandro Canizares (Spa), Soren Hansen (Den), Peter Lawrie, Richard Bland, KJ Choi (Kor), Simon Dyson, Paul McGinley, Emanuele Canonica (Ita), Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra), Ian Garbutt, Wang Ter-chang (Tpe), Lu Wei Chih (Tpe)
72Danny Chia (Mal), James Heath, Daniel Chopra (Swe), Christian L Nilsson (Swe), Mike Cunning (USA)
73Harmeet Kahlon (Ind), David Griffiths, Jovic Lee (Hkg), Craig Kamps (Rsa), Gary Murphy, Barry Lane, (x) Scott Arnold (Hkg), Eddie Lee (Nzl), Marc Warren, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra)
74Joong Kyung Mo (Kor), Frankie Minoza (Phi), Derek Fung (Can), Mardan Mamat (Sin), Jason Dawes (Aus), Marcus Both (Aus), Oliver Wilson, Unho Park (Aus), SSP Chowrasia (Ind)
75Richard Lee (Nzl), Lui Wei-Lan (Tpe), Chapchai Nirat (Tha)
77(x) Jimmy Ko (Hkg), Tony Carolan (Aus), Lee Man Lok (Hkg)
79Chris Tang (Hkg)
Withdrawn: Andrew McLardy
