ESPN Golf

BEIJING -- Austrian Markus Brier grabbed seven birdies in a 5-under-par 67 to hold the lead after the first round of the $2.2 million China Open on Thursday.

The 40-year-old enjoyed the warm and windless morning at the CBD International Golf Club and stood one stroke ahead of Britain's Nick Dougherty and Australia's David McKenzie.

"It was really a nice day ... I hit some iron shots and the putter was really hot as well, which is a great combination," said Brier, who won the 2007 China Open in Shanghai.

"I made all the crucial par saves as well and that really kept the round alive," he said.

Simon Dyson of Britain and Chapchai Nirat of Thailand were tied for fourth after 69s.

Thai Chinnarat Phadungsil and Thongchai Jaidee, Australians Scott Strange and Matthew Millar, and South Korean Choi Ho-sung shared sixth place on 2-under-par.

Brier made a quick start from the 10th tee with three birdies and a bogey on his first four holes, and picked up four more birdies with another bogey on the last hole, where the three players in his group had a total of 12 putts on one green.

"I managed to three putt from 13 meters. The other guys in the group then had a four and five putt ... I have never seen anything like that," Brier said. "There was a tiny slope that none of our group could see today. It was probably just nerves."

McKenzie caught up with the bogeyless Dougherty by picking up an eagle on the par-4 fifth followed by birdies at the sixth and eighth.

European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie carded five bogeys in a disappointing 73 in the first round of his 501st European Tour appearance.

Defending champion Damien McGrane of Ireland, who had picked up four shots before hitting a quadruple bogey on the par-4 14th hole, carded a par-72.

Hou Jian, who turned professional in January at the age of 22, also shot a 72 to top the field of 36 Chinese players, together with home favorite Liang Wenchong.

Liang, mixing three birdies with three bogeys, said he was glad to see young Chinese golfers improving steadily.

"The wind in the afternoon made it difficult to go under par ... but I am happy with what the Chinese players have done," said Liang, who is ranked No. 1 in China.

The China Open is co-sanctioned by the European Tour, the OneAsia Tour and the China Golf Association.