SINGAPORE'S Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing did themselves proud on the opening day of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup at Dongguan, China, yesterday.

The duo returned a bogey-free 66 to take tied-10th place on six-under 66 among the 28 participating nations.

Lam and Mardan are making their fourth World Cup appearance together and their partnership was telling as they marked their card impressively with four birdies on the third, sixth, seventh and ninth holes to reach the turn in 32.

Confidence

They continued their charge of improving on their previous best World Cup finish of tied-17th in 2002 and 2006 by reeling in further birdies on the 15th and 18th to head into the second round buoyed with confidence.

'I think we're pretty okay from tee to green, just that we missed a few putts,' said Mardan.

'I think both of us played really steady today. We didn't really get into trouble so I think that's the key for tomorrow. We will try to do the same thing again,' added Lam.

Japan emerged as Asia's front-runner after Ryuji Imada and Hiroyuki Fujita combined to post a 62, four shots behind leaders Northern Ireland.

The Japanese duo returned with a flawless round with 10 birdies.

South Korea posted a 64 to take a share of fourth place with home favourites China a further shot back in tied-eighth on 65.

Thailand, India and Taiwan posted matching 67s to take a share of 15th place.

Japan's last World Cup victory came in 2002 and Imada will now be looking up to his 40-year-old playing partner Fujita for guidance as they seek to end their country's seven-year drought.

As home favourites, China's Liang Wenchong and Zhang Lianwei drew the largest gallery who had gathered at the famed Olazabal course at Mission Hills.

Their back-nine was further marked with birdies on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 16th against a lone bogey on the 14th.

The Philippines carded a 68 to take a share of 22nd place while Pakistan signed for a 69 to take tied-25th place.

GODFREY ROBERT.