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Unho Park of Australia watches his shot during the first round of
the $1 million Volvo China Open crown at
Shanghai Silport Golf Club November 25, 2004.
[Reuters] |
Bradley Dredge of
Wales proved he was ready for action, moving into a share of
the lead with Australia's Unho Park after the first round of the
Volvo China Open - the first event of the 2005 European Tour
season.
Dredge fired a 5-under-par
67 Thursday to tie the Singapore-based Park in the first of the season's
joint-sanctioned events between the European Tour and the Asian Tour.
Jason Dawes, Stephen Dodd, Amandeep Johl, Barry Lane and rookies Marc Cayeux and Matthew King each
carded a 68. Cayeux and King took advantage of their finish in the top 15
on the 2004 Challenge Tour rankings.
Dredge, who played in last week's WGC-World Cup in Spain and finished
60th on the 2004 Volvo Order of Merit, recorded five birdies along with an eagle at the 14th to counter his dropped
shots at the 11th and 17th. Dredge is seeking his second career win - the
first coming in the 2003 Madeira Island Open.
 "I've heard from some of the guys that they are struggling with
jet lag, but I've slept really
well since arriving late [on Tuesday night from Spain]," Dredge said. "I
played quite nicely on the back nine."
Dredge had a great run on the inward half, holing a 20-footer on the
13th, chipping in for eagle at the next hole before rolling in a 15-footer
on the 15th. He dropped a shot on the short 17th but birdied the last
after nearly chipping in again for eagle.
Park, who finished third in the event last year, carded five birdies in
his first 10 holes. He recently underwent laser surgery and his all-round
game Thursday was as sharp as his vision.
"I drove really well and hit my irons nicely," Park said. "When I was
5-under, I missed a few short putts. It was one of those days where you
play well but don't feel happy. I left about four shots out there on the
back nine."
Defending champion Lian-Wei Zhang of China enjoyed a strong start with
a 69 as he successfully blocked out the pain of an injured hip. He had a
jittery start with bogeys on
the second and third before charging back with a strong back nine of 32.
"I have had treatment for the past two days on my hip and left thigh
but not this morning," he said. "There wasn't any pain this morning as I
was just concentrating on what I needed to do out there. I forgot about
the pain."
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-11-26 09:35