Simon Dyson, who was handed a suspended two-month ban for cheating in December last year, fired a five-under 67 to grab a share of the first-round lead at the European Tour’s China Open yesterday.
The Englishman fired six birdies and a lone bogey in his round in Shenzhen to end the day tied with big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros at the top of a congested leaderboard.
“The first nine holes I played was the best I have played for quite some time,” Dyson told the European Tour. “I missed two fairways just, and didn’t miss a green, so gave myself a lot of chances which is always nice and then I managed to make a couple of birdies on the other side for a tidy five-under. It was a good start and very pleasing.”
Photo: AFP / Paul Lakatos / OneAsia
The 36-year-old has enjoyed previous success in China, winning the event in 2000, as well as the Hong Kong Open and Macau Open, but it was in Shanghai in October last year where he was disqualified from the BMW Masters and hit with a fine for fixing a spike mark on the line of a putt that led to his suspended ban.
Quiros won the last of his six European Tour titles in 2011 and his world ranking has since slumped to No. 240, but the Spaniard showed that his game is heading in the right direction.
Four birdies and an eagle at the par-five 13th put him in pole position to end his trophy drought.
Defending champion Brett Rumford of Australia made a strong start in his bid to become the first man to successfully defend the title after a 68 left him in a group of six players tied for third.
Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin was leading the tournament at six-under before a horror quadruple-bogey eight on the par-four 15th threw his charge off course, but he ended the day with a birdie for a three-under 69 and a share of ninth.
That score was matched by England’s Ian Poulter, who had four birdies in his round to sit alongside compatriot Simon Khan and home favorite Wu Ashun.
World No. 3 Henrik Stenson, who can jump ahead of Tiger Woods and take top spot in the rankings with victory, suffered a fourth bogey on the last for a 71.
Taiwan’s Mou Chung-ho carded a three-over 75 to tie for 99th place.
Play was suspended due to darkness with five players yet to complete their opening rounds.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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