O'Malley in front in Shanghai

Former Scottish Open winner Peter O’Malley secured a one-stroke lead at the end of the opening round of the BMW Asian Open after today carding a five-under-par 67 at the Shanghai Pudong Golf Club.

England’s Oliver Wilson, Henrik Stenson, Jeev Milkha Singh and Mikko Ilonen all took the clubhouse lead earlier in the day at four-under but European Tour stalwart O’Malley carded six birdies and one bogey to take a slender advantage into the second round.

Starting on the back nine, the 42-year-old Australian made the ideal start with four birdies in his first seven holes before dropping a shot on the 18th.

And O’Malley, famous for his stunning 1992 Scottish Open victory at Gleneagles - when he finished the last five holes in seven-under to edge out Colin Montgomerie, was faultless coming home while picking up another two birdies.

“I played very well,” said O’Malley. “I drove the ball beautifully. I had one green where I had to chip and missed two more by a foot on the fringe.

“My iron play was great and I couldn’t find any fault with that.”

Wilson, 27, teed off in the morning session and continued his good form from last week’s second-placed finish at the Volvo China Open to card a four-under-par 68.

Starting on the back nine, Wilson picked up his first birdie on the par-four 11th when he hit a wedge to 10 feet before making the putt and then added another on the par-five 15th to reach the turn at two-under.

He then added three more birdies and was only denied sole leadership when he bogeyed his last hole.

“I got a lot of confidence from last week,” said Mansfield-born Wilson.

“Today I played lovely and was really solid. Apart from the last I only had one par save so I gave myself a lot of chances.”

Stenson, the highest ranked player at the tournament, stormed up the leaderboard with four birdies in his first seven holes before bogeying the par-four 17th – his eighth hole.

The Swede then bogeyed the third but finished strongly with birdie putts on the fifth and par-five ninth.

“I played really solid in the beginning and made four birdies in my first seven holes,” said Stenson.

“I finished well with two good putts and two birdies after that and I am happy with the way I played.”

Singh moved alongside Wilson and Stenson after carding five birdies and only one bogey while an eagle on the par-four seventh – his 16th – ensured Ilonen finished among the early pacesetters.

Defending champion Raphael Jacquelin made a bad start to his round with a double bogey on the first and returned to the clubhouse one over while 2006 Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke finished one under par alongside former world number one Greg Norman.