KOREAN Cho Chul-sang hit a spectacular early morning birdie barrage to set a new record for the front nine of the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club's Composite Course yesterday.

The 37-year-old international representative had six birdies and three pars in a sparkling outward 29, but faltered badly on the home stretch to take 40 for a 69.

After birdies at the second, third, fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth, he had hopes of eclipsing Nick Faldo's course record nine-under-par 62, set in the 1990 Johnnie Walker Classic.

''I had a strong feeling that I could beat the course record, but I hit an unlucky patch,'' said Cho, in equal 26th place going into today's final round.