Fri, Oct 31, 2014 page20

• China-loving Levy ahead in Shanghai

  • Reuters, SHANGHAI
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  Frenchman Alexander Levy continued his love affair with China’s golf courses by kicking off the European Tour’s Final Series with a seven-under-par 65 to lead after the first round of the BMW Masters.

  Levy, who won the Tour’s China Open in April, fired seven birdies in a bogey-free round to lead Argentine Emiliano Grillo, Belgain Nicolas Colsaerts and France’s Romain Wattel by one at Lake Malaran.

  Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell also went bogey-free, firing a five-under 67 to sit in fifth at the first event of the European Tour’s lucrative final four of the season, which offer more than US$30 million in combined prize money ort of the 24-year-old Levy, who showed hot form on a cool, damp morning.

  Starting on the 10th, Levy opened with four birdies before getting to five-under by sending a pin-point iron at the 200-yard par-three 17th to six feet to make the turn in 31.

  Another shot was gained at the second before he completed his round by rolling in a 12-foot putt at his last for a birdie three and a 65.

  It was the Frenchman’s fifth straight sub-par round in China after his four-shot win in Shenzhen.

  “I enjoy being in China and I’m going to try my best the last few days and try to do the same things I thought of in April,” he said.

  Levy has been in strong form of late, claiming his last strokeplay event at the curtailed Portugal Masters earlier this month to become the first Frenchman to win at least twice in one European Tour season.

  Levy is 19th in the Tour’s Race to Dubai standings, but a strong showing at the US$7 million Shanghai event could rocket him up the money list. World No. 1 Rory McIlroy is well clear at the top of the standings, but is skipping this week’s event and the following World Golf Championship HSBC Champions tournament next week.

  Second-placed Sergio Garcia is also absent this week, opting to compete at the PGA Tour’s event in Malaysia, while Henrik Stenson, third on the list, is also missing from the 78-man field in Shanghai.

  Welshman Jamie Donaldson, fourth in the Race to Dubai, made a good start in Shanghai with a four-under 68 to sit in a group of six players, including Ryder Cup-winning teammate Thomas Bjorn, who is fifth in the money race.

  Li Hao-tong and Hu Mu led the local charge with the Chinese pair firing 69s to sit tied 12th, alongside multiple major winner Ernie Els and Italian Francesco Molinari.

  CIMB CLASSIC

  AFP, KUALA LUMPUR

  Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg sunk seven birdies for a seven-under-par 65 to take a two-stroke lead in the first-round of the CIMB Classic in Malaysia, while Spanish star Sergio Garcia lurked four shots back.

  US defending champion Ryan Moore turned in six birdies to lead a pack of golfers just three strokes off Karlberg’s pace on 68.

  The Swede, who has struggled to overcome a stubborn viral infection and said he “almost stopped enjoying the game,” credited his strong start to a decision to just shake off the negative feelings and relax.

  “I just went out there and tried to be as relaxed as possible and just have fun,” he said.

  Karlberg had five birdies on the front nine at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club and cemented his lead with two more on the final two holes.

  World No. 4 Garcia, the highest-ranked golfer in the field, was in striking distance after entering the clubhouse with a three-under 69.

  The US’ Patrick Reed was among several entrants who ended the day at two-under after shooting a 70.

  England’s Lee Westwood had an up-and-down day to finish at even-par, while the US’ Jason Dufner could muster only a two-over 74.
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