FANLING, China, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Mark Brown's bogey-free, 8-under-par 62 Thursday has given him the first-round lead at the European Tour's UBS Hong Kong Open.
Brown twice had stretches in which he posted three consecutive birdies in taking a 1-stroke lead over Rory McIlroy and Jeev Milkha Singh, who are tied for second. Simon Dyson and Soren Hansen were in fourth at 6-under 64.
McIlroy's round featured eight birdies but he also had a bogey at the sixth hole. Singh charged up the leader board with six birdies in his last eight holes Thursday.
Brown, playing the back nine of the Hong Kong Golf Club first, had a birdie at No. 11 but grabbed attention with consecutive birdies on Nos. 13-15. Another birdie at 18 allowed him to make the turn at 5-under.
He had a par on the first hole and jumped into the lead with birdies on 2, 3 and 4.
"I have a good mate on the bag this week (as caddy)," Brown said. "I grew up with him at my home course in New Zealand and it has sort of got me back to a few of the things I used to do when I was younger swing-wise. It seems to be working so I will stick with those things."
