Lien takes first round lead in Taiwan Masters

Lien Chi-wei of Taiwan shot a surprising six-under-par 66 in tough conditions to take the opening round lead at the $600,000 Mercuries Taiwan Masters on Thursday. Unheralded Lien opened up a four-shot lead over Filipinos Angelo Que and Antonio Lascuna, Baek Seuk-Hyun of Korea and Taiwan’s Wang Shih-jui and Hsieh Chi-hsien at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club. Lin Wen-tang, a five-time Asian Tour winner, and fellow Taiwanese Hsieh Chin-sheng, Indian star Anirban Lahiri, Australian Scott Hend, Kalle Samooja of Finland and Thailand’s Panuwat Muenlek were among the players who carded 71. “My iron play was really good and I sank my putts,” said Lien, 37. “It was a really good day for me. I’ve been playing in this event for five years and this is my best score on this golf course,” he said. “This is a very difficult golf course and I’m really happy with my performance but I know it will only get tougher from here,” he added.