Lawrie makes most of run on the easier track

European and US Tours: China's Liang Wen-chong and Australia's Marcus Fraser fired bogey-free eight-under-par 64s to share a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Singapore Masters.

Teeing off in one of the first groups on the less demanding Classic Course, the 28-year-old Liang reached the turn on three-under after a bogey-free 33, before storming ahead of the field with a run of five birdies over six holes.

Fraser started his round in the early afternoon and recorded four birdies on both the front and back nines to join Liang at the top of the leaderboard towards the end of the day.

India's Jyoti Randhawa, Japan's Shingo Katayama and Briton Barry Hume are all one shot behind the leaders at the $1.1 million co-sanctioned European and Asian Tour event.

The opening two rounds are split over two layouts at the Laguna National Golf Club before the field is reduced on Friday and the final 36 holes are played on the tougher Masters Course.

The leading 14 players completed their rounds on the Classic Course with Peter Lawrie in a large group on six under. He fired eight birdies, but finished both nines with a dropped shot at the ninth and 18th.

Damien McGrane shot a 70 over the same course.

Over on the Masters Course, Gary Murphy had four bogeys, a double bogey and four birdies in his one-over 73, while Darren Clarke slumped to a 74 which included three birdies but three bogeys and a double. Tied for 137th, he has his work cut out to make the cut.

The lowest round on the Masters Course was a four-under 68 by a group of five players, including holder Mardan Mamat of Singapore, good enough for a share of 15th place.

With his unconventional, baseball-like swing, Liang is the highest-ranked Chinese professional at 114 in the world and has registered seven wins on his domestic tour, although he is still searching for a breakthrough victory overseas.

"I was driving it steady and my putting was pretty consistent as well," he told reporters. "I played well on the front nine and after firing three birdies, I was very relaxed heading into the last nine holes."

The 2005 winner, Nick Dougherty of England, put together a solid back nine on the Masters Course to finish on two-under-par 70 and in a tie for 58th.