Liang and Sterne lead in Hong Kong

China's Liang Wen-chong and South African Richard Sterne will take a one-stroke lead into the second day of the UBS Hong Kong Open after carding impressive opening rounds today.

Liang, bidding to become the first Asian player to win the event in a decade, carded a six-under-par 64 and would have taken the outright lead but for a bogey on the ninth, his final hole.

Despite a field which contains six major champions it was Asian golfers who dominated the day as Chinese Taipei's Lin Wen-tang and Frankie Minoza of the Philippines finished tied for third at five under.

Rory McIlroy was the best of the Irish with a level-par 70, while Paul McGinley, Gareth Maybin and Graeme McDowell finished the round on one-over-par.

England's Oliver Wilson, who lost out in a play-off to Sergio Garcia at the HSBC Champions recently, sank a birdie putt from eight feet on the 18th to ensure he is within touch of the leaders at four under.

Wilson carded seven birdies against three bogeys to share fifth place with Thai Chawalit Plaphol, Wang Ter-chang of Chinese Taipei and Italian Francesco Molinari.

Two-time major winner John Daly enjoyed a solid round with a two-under-par 68 to lie four shots off the lead.

Colin Montgomerie also made a solid if unspectacular start with a 68 as he looked to mastermind a second title in three years.

Playing in his first European Tour event for over a year, Nick Faldo reeled off three successive birdies from the second but three bogeys and a double bogey on the par-three eighth meant the 51-year-old finished two over par.

Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez will need to improve tomorrow after a disappointing round in which the Spaniard managed just two birdies and three bogeys to finish one over.