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Aussie Craig Scott grabs Midea China Classic lead

Australian Craig Scott shot a six-under 65 for a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Midea China Classic yesterday.

Australian Brad McIntosh and Brisbane-based Irishman Eddie Barr each shot 66 at the Royal Orchid International Golf Club in Shunde, south of Guangzhou in the southern China, at the third event of the inaugural OneAsia season.

Stephen Leaney, the 2003 US Open runner-up and four-time European Tour winner, shot 67 to share fourth spot with South Korean Sung Sea-woo and China’s Gao Jie and Liu Junfeng.

Chinese superstar Liang Wenchong carded a 69 to tie for ninth, while Zhang Lianwei, the 2006 champion, and playing partner Kurt Barnes of Australia both finished even-par.

Following a stressful few days, Scott arrived at the course late on Wednesday after having his passport and Chinese visa confiscated on Saturday when he was leaving Australia, giving him precious little time to prepare.

Teeing off on the 10th hole, however, he bagged five birdies, eagled the par-five 18th and then bogeyed the par-four fifth.

“That wasn’t bad considering I’ve never played the course before,” said the 26-year-old, who made the most of his booming tee-shots. “I’ve never played without a practice round, but it’s not such a bad thing because you don’t know where the danger is.”

McIntosh, the big-hitting lefty famous for shooting the first 59 in an official PGA event in Australia, also made the most of the wide fairways to nail nine birdies.

“The course suits me because I can use my driver a lot, I can attack. I hit the driver really nicely, so got to hit a lot of wedges,” said the stocky 27-year-old, a two-time winner on Australia’s Von Nida Tour.

Leaney, a former President’s Cup representative, opened with an eagle and two birdies. A double-bogey on the par-three 11th and a bogey on 13 set him back, but the 40-year-old rallied with birdies on 14, 17 and 18.

Liang, Asia’s No. 1 in 2007 and joint runner-up at last month’s Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open in Japan, birdied the first and last, while a chip-in birdie at the par-four 10th offset a bogey at eight.
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