Del Ray upstages Zhou's record round at Volvo China Open

On a day when Chongqing teenager Zhou Yanhan shot nine-under-par 62 to record the lowest score ever by a Chinese player at the Volvo China Open, Spaniard Alejandro Del Rey went one stroke better to take the first-round lead at the national championship.

As the wet morning conditions turned to overcast skies for the afternoon play at Enhance Anting Golf Club, South African Shaun Norris was two shots back on eight-under 63. Austrian Bernd Wiesberger was a shot further back on 64 at the $2.75 million tournament, a DP World Tour and China Tour co-sponsored event.

New Zealander Daniel Hillier, the World No. 90 and highest-ranked player in the field, carded a 68, one shot ahead of defending champion Wu Ashun (69).

Starting his round from the Enhance Anting back nine, Del Ray carded an eagle three on his first hole, the 568-yard 10th hole, and never looked back in a round that included nine birdies and a bogey five at the 14th hole (his fifth hole).

"A very nice round. Everything felt like it was flowing pretty nicely," said the 28-year-old Del Ray. "It's a course that's demanding out of every part of the game, so I guess everything worked really well. The driving was very good. It's been fairly good throughout the year and I was just happy to see that it still is after six weeks off."

Zhou, an 18-year-old who won seven times last year on the China Tour before graduating to the DP World Tour, carded six birdies over the opening nine to make the turn at 29. After making an eagle three on the 10th hole to get to eight-under, he could only muster one more birdie at the 194-yard 12th hole in his bogey-free round.

"I am feeling great. I made seven birdies and an eagle. I played well on the front nine but the back nine the wind was getting tricky. I coped with it pretty good," said Zhou who had a large gallery following his every move. "It feels incredible. There were so many people coming through to watch me, to support me. I am very happy to get a good score."

Otaegui, who won the Volvo China Open at Hidden Grace Golf Club in Shenzhen for his fifth DP World Tour title, started his early morning round from the back nine in wet weather. He quickly took advantage of the soft conditions to card a round featuring six birdies and a bogey five at his last (the ninth hole).

"The first nine holes it was breezy and rainy, the ball wasn't flying. It was least a club or a club and a half playing longer than the practice days. It wasn't easy," said Otaegui. "I started very good on the back nine as well with a birdie on the third hole and fourth hole (his 12th and 13th holes), hitting very good irons, giving me some good birdie chances. A bit of a shame the bogey at the last."

Ding, the China No. 2, was walking with a noticeable limp after undergoing surgery earlier this week for a nail infection. With the pace of play slow his discomfort improved as the round went on as he would finish with five birdies and two bogeys after starting from the back nine.

"I feel pretty solid. I birdied number 12 to start and three birdies in a row (from the 17th hole, his eighth hole). I'm in a very good position for the next three days," said the Beijing native.

Five players were left out on the field when play was called for darkness. They will complete their first round early tomorrow.

Enhance Anting Golf Club is a 7,188-yard, par-71 layout designed by Robert Trent Jones II.

Volvo China Open first round leading scores

Players are from the China mainland unless indicated

61 – Alejandro Del Rey (ESP)

62 – Zhou Yanhan

63 – Shaun Norris (RSA)

64 – Bernd Wiesberger (AUS)

65 – Bowen Chai

66 – Adrian Otaegui (UAE), Andrew Johnson (ENG), Chen Kuangyu (AUS),

Aaron Cockerill (CAN)

67 – Zander Lombard (RSA), Bryant Davis (USA), Quim Vidal (ESP), Liu Yue,

Jacques Kruyswijk (RSA), Marcel Schneider (GER), Angel Ayora (ESP),

Kota Kaneko (JPN)

68 – Jason Scrivener (AUS), Jan Schneider (GER), Tom Vaillant (FRA), Ding Wenyi,

David Law (SCO), Jin Zihao, Rocco Repetto Taylor (ESP), Gregorio De Leo (ITA),

Mikael Lindberg (SWE), Daniel Hillier (NZL), Matthew Baldwin (ENG), She Zihan.

Bowen Xiao, Cao Senshao, Darius Van Driel (NED)