McGrane and Lawrie in contention in China

IRELAND’s Damien McGrane and Peter Lawrie are three shots off the lead after the opening round of the Volvo China Open.

Thongchai Jaidee defied a niggling elbow injury to card a superb bogey-free eight-under-par 64 to share a two-shot first round lead alongside Korea’s Kim Do-hoon.

Volvo China Open 2008 champion McGrane thrived in the cold and windy conditions at Jinji Lakes International Golf Club to shoot a 67 early in the day.