Singapore take lead in World Cup qualifying

Singapore's Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing burst into the first round lead with a sizzling eight-under-par 63 at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup Asian Qualifying on Wednesday. The pair sank eight birdies in a bogey-free round in the fourball format at Seri Selangor Golf Club in Malaysia, putting themselves in line for one of three places up for grabs in the event proper in China. New Zealand's Michael Hendry and Gareth Paddison, who had two straight eagles on the fifth and sixth holes, are a stroke back in third. Myanmar's Zaw Moe and Nay Bala battled to a 66 to lie three shots off the lead. Seventeen two-man teams have teed-up in the qualifiers with the aim of joining top golfers at the 28-nation biennial contest, which will take place November 24-27 at Hainan Island.