Liang stakes early claim for honours
'It was great to play with Padraig Harrington. I learned something playing with him'
It keeps getting better for Chinese number two Liang Wenchong. Just days after finishing 15th at the China Open, the 26-year-old native from Zhongshan has fired himself into title contention at the Omega Hong Kong Open with a solid performance that announced his arrival at Fanling.
Liang carded a three-under-par 67 under brilliant sunshine to be tied for 12th and give himself a huge confidence boost.
'I'm really happy with my putter today. I am happy overall with my game and I managed to score several long putts. It was also great to play with Padraig Harrington [the defending champion] on the same flight. I learned something playing with him. He was impressed by my score too,' smiled Liang, who is fighting to keep his Asian Tour card for next season, lying in 62nd place.
'This is really good news for me starting the way I have started because I want to keep my Asian Tour card. I need to be in the top 60. It looks as if I could do it now with this good start. I just hope I continue the good work,' said Liang, who is three shots off the pace.
Liang received a morale boost at Shanghai's Silport Golf Club last week by not only finishing 15th but finishing five strokes ahead of his friend and mentor, China number one Zhang Liangwei. Liang is looking to step out of the shadow of the 39-year-old Zhang, who failed to mount a serious challenge at last week's China Open as defending champion.
But Liang is looking for his first tour win, while Zhang has five wins to date, although it's just a matter of time before the younger man scores his breakthrough - and it could be at Fanling.
'My concentration on every shot was good and my distance control was very good as well. It's nice to play in Hong Kong because I have fond memories here. I finished 12th here a couple of years ago so it has been a good hunting ground for me. I feel confident about my game and I am confident of playing even better,' said Liang.
Zhang had an up and down day as he carded an even-par 70, but he was confident of going better today.
'I still have a bit of trouble with my hip but it wasn't so bad today. I still have a chance of carding a good score. Overall, my putter and my feel wasn't altogether good,' said Zhang.
His putting let him down on several occasions. He missed a handful of close-range putts, including a 21/2-footer on the ninth. But he made amends when he birdied the 12th, 14th and 18th holes for an even-par total.
'I made a lot of bogeys but by the same token, I sank a few very good birdies towards the end. It wasn't the kind of start I wanted but it's not too bad. I think I can improve. Liang Wenchong is playing well and his condition is good. I hope he does well,' said the Chinese number one, who sank a brilliant 15-foot putt for a birdie on the 18th hole to sign off for the day.
Meanwhile, South Korean Kang Wook-soon had a disastrous opening day, shooting a seven-over-par 77 - but the former Hong Kong Open champion was not worried.
'This is my first tournament in about three months,' said Kang, the 1998 Hong Kong Open winner. 'I have been struggling with a back injury and it has been stiff for quite a while so I was quite rusty. I started from the 10th hole and I just got off to a bad start [triple bogey] and things didn't really improve. I am not so worried because I know with time, I can play better,' he said.
'I am confident of getting a better score. I have been having daily massages on my back and the soreness has eased and I can swing again.
'It will take some time before I can play 100 per cent. I just don't feel 100 per cent right now and that was expected. With a day's experience under my belt, I think I can hit an under-par score tomorrow,' said the Korean.