Jacquelin and Huan lead the way in China

Raphael Jacquelin and Ming-Jie Huan share the lead at the Volvo China open on three under-par.

“I said to my caddie anything around par would be a good score,” the Frenchman said.

“I knew I was going to chip and putt all day long and just had to try and save par on every hole.”

China’s Huang was in the first group out in the afternoon and got off to a terrible start after playing the first three holes in three over.

However Huang, who had shown no previous form this season to suggest he would be a contender, sank four birdies on the back nine, including a crucial four at the 18th, to haul himself to the top of the leaderboard.

“I targeted to finish one over so I’m very happy,” he said. “I putted and chipped well.”

Gary Rusnak is a shot further back on two under after a strong finish saw the American record a 69, while 11 players are bunched at one under par, including Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn.

Bjorn agreed it was tough going.

“It was a grind and you just had to settle for pars and take the few opportunities when they came up,” he said.

“You are certainly going to make bogeys the way the course is set up with very narrow fairways and severe rough.”

Graeme McDowell finished his round at one under-par, two shots off the lead while Damien McGrane finished even par and, despite a bogey on the last, was happy with his afternoon’s work.

“The golf was steady,” he said. “I holed a few nice putts early on but gave them away on the back nine.

Peter Lawrie and Graeme Murphy were further back at one-over and three-over par respectively.