HONG KONG, Nov 16 - Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara threw down a challenge to defending champion Colin Montgomerie, carding a near flawless six-under 64 to take an early one-stroke lead in the first round of the Hong Kong Open on Thursday.

Joint third at the recent Mallorca Classic, Lara did not drop a stroke during his rise to the top of the leaderboard, sinking six birdies to finish one ahead of Briton Graeme Storm and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy.

Two strokes off the pace, Indian Jeev Milkha Singh and Korean Jong Yul Suk were flying the flag for Asia, joined by Swede Jarmo Sandelin on 66.

Korean Jun-won Park, Australian David Bransdon, Swede Johan Axgren and South African Hendrik Burhmann fired a three-under 67s to finish three behind Lara, and a stroke above a glut of players on two-under.

New Zealander Michael Campbell remained within striking distance of the leaders after carding a patient 68. The former U.S Open champion and third place-finisher at last week's Champions tournament settled down after two birdies and two bogies in his first five holes.

Campbell was joined on two-under by experienced Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, who led the field early but disintegrated on the back nine with three bogies on the last four holes.

Thongchai Jaidee, Thailand's first European tour event winner, also remained in the hunt on two-under, recovering from a double-bogey on his first hole to post a five-birdie 68.

Local Chinese hope Zhang Lianwei finished with a disappointing one-under 69, after dropping a stroke on the last hole.

Zhang's compatriot Liang Wenchong made a flying start, sitting on four-under after five holes following two birdies and an eagle on the third.

The Hong Kong Open, the second event on the 2006-07 European Tour schedule, is also sanctioned by the Asian Tour.