Lucky Brier holds slender advantage

BEIJING // The Austrian Markus Brier admitted he rode his luck at times but still felt he warranted his one-stroke lead following the opening round at the Volvo China Open. Brier, who won the tournament in 2007, carded a five- under-par 67 and holds a narrow advantage over England's Nick Dougherty and Australian David McKenzie, with Simon Dyson and Chapchai Nirat a shot further back on three under.

Brier, 40, started strongly at the Beijing CBD International club, birdieing the 10th and 11th and overcoming a dropped shot at the 12th with another birdie at the 13th. "I was a bit lucky on three and four, three I chipped in and four I hit it in the rough but got a good lie and made birdie from there," Brier admitted. "I got good breaks today and at the end, missed a few fairways that made it tough for myself but I felt comfortable."

McKenzie is also in contention, as is Dougherty who started with eight consecutive pars before three straight birdies and added one more on the sixth after starting on the ninth tee. * PA Sport