Houston trails Choi by one stroke in Hong Kong

Welshman Garry Houston trails leader KJ Choi by just one stroke after the first round of the Hong Kong Open following a hard-fought seven-under-par 63 at Fanling.

Choi dropped just one shot in a round which included nine birdies – five in a row on the back nine – while Swedish duo Robert Karlsson and Fredrik Andersson Hed are a further stroke behind Houston.

The 36-year-old Houston has had a solid calendar year on the European Tour - finishing 93rd in the Order of Merit – but missed the cut in his last four events prior to his virtually error-free round at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

Starting on the back nine in bright and wind-free conditions he turned at three-under, which included an excellent tee shot at the par-three 12th and equally impressive approach to the tricky 18th to pick up birdies on both occasions.

Houston missed several other chances but his round came alive with a run of three consecutive birdies from the second – his 11th – to leap to five-under through 13.

He then reeled off another two quick birdies at the 436-yard sixth and short par-four next before his only blemish at the last, where he three putted after hitting his second shot into the foot of the sloping green – a feature of this short composite Fanling course.

But despite that error Houston is on course to make the weekend for the first time at the Hong Kong Open, co-sanctioned between the European and Asian Tours, after leaving much-more experienced players in his wake.

“I am very pleased with the round. Overall, I putted exceptionally well on the front nine, my back nine,” said the Wrexham-based professional.

“My putting hasn’t been the best so it was a nice to get a few in. On the whole my putting is very solid, but I just finished the 2007 season with five or six tournaments where I didn’t putt my best – normally it is my best tool.

“It was nice that it worked well today and I also hit the ball very well.”

Glasgow-born Scott Barry Hume shot a five-under-par 65 to join former champion Miguel Angel Jimenez three off the lead.

Hume is battling to save his Asian Tour card with just three events remaining after Hong Kong and an explosive front nine of six birdies in seven holes with just one bogey helped his cause.

He played the back nine in level par after a bogey at the 17th cancelled out his birdie at 12.

“I need a big finish somewhere along the way, but I’ve given up thinking about it as I’ve missed my chance in the big events,” said Hume, who is currently 111th on the Order of Merit and need to finish in the top-60 to receive full exemption status.

“It was a good start today and if I can stay in the top 10 all week I’ll be delighted if I can keep the ball in the fairway, which I haven’t been doing all year.”

Elsewhere, Ireland’s Gary Murphy is at four under, with Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and Scottish duo Gary Orr and Marc Warren a further shot back.

Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo birdied the last to join Paul McGinley and 2000 Hong Kong Open champion Simon Dyson at two-under-par, while Northern Ireland rookie Rory McIlroy joins compatriot Damien McGrane, England’s Yasin Ali, two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen and former Masters champion Mike Weir at one under.