Chen shines with 66 in Shanghai

　　Chen Xiaoma, last year’s ‘Most Improved Player’ on the Omega China Tour, shot an opening six-under-par 66 to take a three-shot lead in the Shanghai Championship, the fourth event on this year’s Omega China Tour.

　　Yuan Hao, the Tour’s longest hitter, and 21-year-old James Yang Wenzhang, runner-up in last year’s Buddha Cup, both shot 69.

　　Defending champion Li Chao is lurking ominously after a 70 that put him tied fourth with Wang Huiqiang, while Asian Tour player Shang Lei and Australian Garth Cusick shot 71. The experienced Lu Wen-teh of Chinese Taipei, winner of last month’s Kunming Championship and one of the favourites this week, shot a 75 to lie joint 24th.

　　Chengdu-born Yang Taoli, the first female professional to play on the Omega China Tour, ended with a credible 77 over the 7,118-yard layout at the Orient (Shanghai) Golf and Country Club.

　　Chen enjoyed his return to Shanghai, the city he lived in before moving inland to Suzhou, where he’s attached to the Taihu International Golf Club. His seven-birdie 66 matched his second-round score in March’s Dell Championship at Orient (Xiamen), where he finished 12th.

　　“I lived in Shanghai for 10 years, so I feel comfortable. I know the area well, although I hadn’t played at this club before,” said the six-footer. “I putted very well today, but most importantly I was hitting my irons well, so I gave myself a lot of birdie chances.”