As expected, its tight at the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the Volvo China Open, with the 2007 winner Marcus Brier off to a flying start. He completed a first round of 67 to lead by 1 from Nick Dougherty (40/1) and David McKenzie, who both fired 68′s. Simon Dyson is on 3 under after 69 and justifying his tag as one of the favourites.

Brier, started on the 10th with consecutive birdies before dropping a shot on the 12th. Birdies followed however on the 13th, 15th, 2nd, 3rd and 4th to get Brier to 6under. A bogey on the last tarnished the round somewhat but Brier will be more than pleased with 67.

Our tip Chapchai Nirat (25/1) is well placed after an opening 69. A bogey on the first was not the ideal start but birdies on the 2nd and 4th, followed by a fantastic eagle on the 13th got him to 3 under. A dropped shot on the 15th was quickly recovered with a birdie on the 16th and two pars followed for 69. If he can repeat todays performance over the next 3 days, then my money will have been put to good use. Early days yet however!

Our other recommendation, Andrew Coltart did not get off to the start I was looking for though as he signed for a 74. A double bogey on the very difficult 14th was his undoing in what was otherwise a solid round. A sub-70 round tomorrow could get him right back in the mix for a top-10 so I wont panic yet.

Others that played well but were undone by one bad hole were Thongchai Jaidee, who double bogeyed his last hole for a 70 and defending champion Damien McGrane, who was 4-under before taking a disastrous quadruple bogey on the 14th. At level par, Damien is still in the hunt, albeit further back than what he would have hoped.