England's Mattew Baldwin holds the lead after the opening round of the Volvo China Open at Tianjin's Binhai Lake Golf Club. Baldwin took control of the European Tour event as he produced an error-free seven-under-par 65 to lead in the clubhouse by one stroke from Joost Luiten, Scott Strange, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, Fredrik Andersson-Hed and fellow Englishman Gary Boyd.
The 26-year-old enjoyed the perfect start as he rolled in on the par-four first for birdie and followed up with three successive pars. He then added another five birdies in seven holes from the fifth before completing his day with a birdie at the 17th.
"It was very good today so I am happy with that," Baldwin told europeantour.com. "My caddie and I set out this morning with a game play of trying to make 18 pars and take our chances when they came, and it turned out to be one of those days where there were a lot of chances and I managed to take a few of them. On what proved to be a day for good scores, six players ended their rounds on six-under, while Ireland's Damien McGrane completed his day in five-under, the same score as Branden Grace, Graeme Storm, Ignacio Garrido, Richie Ramsay and Marcus Fraser.
Elsewhere Paul Casey shot a four-under 68 to join a host of players in a share of 14th, while China's Guan Tian-lang made history when he teed-off to become the youngest ever player on the European Tour at the age of 13 years and 173 days. Things dis not start well for the teenager as he managed three bogeys and one double bogey over his first six holes before stopping the rot with a birdie at the seventh. His fourth bogey arrived at the ninth but the youngster parred his way home for a five-over 77.
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