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Wilson in the hunt at Asian Open

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD (GB & Ire unless stated)
-5 P O'Malley (Aus) -4 M Ilonen (Fin), JM Singh (Ind), H Stenson (Swe), O Wilson -3 S Hend (Aus) Selected others: -1 D Clarke, G Norman (Aus) level R Goosen (SA), MA Jimenez (Sp) +1 R McIlroy

Oliver Wilson
Wilson lost in a play-off to Paul Casey in China in 2006

Englishman Oliver Wilson carded a round of 68 to join a four-way tie for second place, one shot back after round one of the BMW Asian Open in Shanghai.

The 27-year-old, who finished in a tie for second last week at the China Open, carded five birdies at the Pudong Club.

Australian Peter O'Malley, now 42, who last won on the European Tour in 2001, leads the way at five under.

Darren Clarke had four birdies but also three bogeys to join a huge group including Greg Norman at one under.

Starting on the back nine, Wilson picked up his first birdie on the par-four 11th when he hit a wedge to 10 feet.

He holed the putt and then added another on the par-five 15th to reach the turn at two under.

On his inward nine he added three more birdies and was only denied the lead when he bogeyed his last hole.

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

"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."

Henrik Stenson
Stenson made an electrifying start in search of his 10th European title

O'Malley won the 1992 Scottish Open but his last European title came at the English Open in 2001.

He was also happy with his form and said: "I played very well and 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."

Sweden's Henrik 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.

Stenson 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."

Last week's runaway winner Damien McGrane had a double bogey at the 10th and shot a three over 75.

Former world number one Norman said of his round: "I thought it should have been better.

"I played well except for a couple of holes but outside of that, I concentrated well and putted well and didnt make anything."




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