Australians lead World Cup of Golf

HAIKOU, China, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Australians Richard Green and Brendan Jones teamed for an 11-under 61 Thursday and a one-stroke lead at the World Cup of Golf in China.

The 72-hole tournament is contested with four-ball competitions in the first and third rounds and foursomes in the second and fourth. Italy is the defending champion.

Green and Jones were 5-under over their last five holes Thursday in taking the lead. Pre-tournament favorites Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, from Ireland, and Scots Stephen Gallacher and Martin Laird are tied for the second 9-under.

The Netherlands (Robert-Jan Derksen and Joost Luiten) and the United States (Gary Woodland and Matt Kuchar) are in fourth at 8-under 64.

Green and Jones, playing in the third group off Thursday, jumped into the front with birdies at Nos. 2 and 3 and had another back-to-back birdie run at 7 and 8.

They reached 6-under with an eagle at the 12th-hole, a 531-yard par 5.

The Australians took off with birdies at 14 and 15 and then dropped in an eagle at the par-4, 360-yard 16th. A birdie at 17 got them to 11-under.

The Irish and Scottish teams each had seven birdies and an eagle on the day.