TAIPEI, Sept 27, 2012 (AFP) - Unheralded Lien opened up a four-shot lead over Filipinos Angelo Que and Antonio Lascuna, Baek Seuk-Hyun of Korea and Taiwan's Wang Shih-jui and Hsieh Chi-hsien at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club.
Lin Wen-tang, a five-time Asian Tour winner, and fellow Taiwanese Hsieh Chin-sheng, Indian star Anirban Lahiri, Australian Scott Hend, Kalle Samooja of Finland and Thailand's Panuwat Muenlek were among the players who carded 71.
"My iron play was really good and I sank my putts," said Lien, 37. "It was a really good day for me. I've been playing in this event for five years and this is my best score on this golf course," he said.
"This is a very difficult golf course and I'm really happy with my performance but I know it will only get tougher from here," he added.
Que, a three-time Asian Tour winner, said he could have gone lower despite the challenging conditions as he found 14 greens in a round of three birdies and one bogey.
Brief scores (par 72)
66 - Lien Chi-wei (TPE)
70 - Hsieh Chi-hsien (TPE), Antonio Lascuna (PHI), Baek Seuk-hyun (KOR), Angelo Que (PHI), Wand Shih-jui (TPE).
71 - Lin Wen-tang (TPE), Hsieh Chin-sheng (TPE), Panuwat Muenlek (THA), Kalle Samooja (FIN), Anirban Lahiri (IND), Scott Hend (AUS).