SHENZHEN, April 24, 2014 (HK Golfer News Wire) - The pair lead the 20 million yuan (U.S.$ 3.2 million) tournament by one from Aussie defending champion Brett Rumford, who was joined at 68 by the English duo of Tyrell Hatton and David Horsey, as well as Spain’s Adrien Otaegu.
Frenchman Alexander Levy and Korean Park Il-hwan are also at four under with one hole to play on Friday.
A shot further back lurks a massive pack that includes Ian Poulter and local hero Wu Ashun.
World number three Henrik Stenson, who could leapfrog Adam Scott and Tiger Woods to the top if he wins here on Sunday, posted a gutsy 71 despite still suffering the effects of a debilitating stomach bug.
A balmy day at Genzon’s beautiful 6,534-metre (7,145-yard) course made scoring relatively easy on Thursday, and the early starters made hay.
"It was a good round of golf," said Quiros, a six-time winner on the European tour but without a victory since claiming two titles in Dubai in 2011.
:You can’t see it yet on the rankings, but I have been playing better. The Middle East swing was a good three weeks for me, then I had a good result in Joburg and the last couple of weeks have been better."
One of the longest hitters on tour, the 1.91-metre (6 ft 3 in) Quiros nevertheless credited his putter for an excellent round that contained just one bogey against four birdies and an eagle.
"It’s not even really a technical thing,” the 31-year-old said. “Because the putter is the last club we use to finish the hole, it is the club with which you feel the most pressure and that is what has been happening."
Dyson also has six titles on the European Tour -- his last at the KLM Open in 2011 -- and his only bogey came on hole number one.
"I started on the tenth today and the first nine holes I played was the best I have played for quite some time," he said.
"I really didn’t miss a shot. I missed two fairways -- just -- and didn’t miss a green, so gave myself a lot chances which is always nice. Then I managed to make a couple of birdies on the other side for a tidy five under. It was a good start and very pleasing."
Dyson is something of an old China hand having won this event, the Macau Open and the Hong Kong Open in a very lucrative year 2000 -- and he said he loved being back in the region
"I have had a bit of success here and really enjoy playing in China. Obviously I have won this tournament before so that always gives you a good feeling and like I said, I just played nicely today so hopefully I can continue to do that over the next three days."
Rumford made a great start to his title defence on a course he said is in immaculate condition.
"There is a long way to go and there are a lot of very good players here this week so I just need to try and keep playing and scoring the way I did over the next two rounds and try to get myself into a position where I have a chance to win coming down the back nine on Sunday.
"That’s what we’re all trying to do over those first three rounds, and in that regard today was very much the start I was looking for."
Wu drew the biggest following of the day, but said he welcomed the attention of the fans even if they were sometime a bit too exuberant.
"The people (fans) are very friendly and get excited to watch me play -- and also the other Chinese players," he said.
"They get very excited and they’re happy to watch, so sometimes it is not so easy."
Poulter also has a solid track record in China -- has also won the Hong Kong Open, as well as the WGC-HSBC Champions Tournament in Shanghai in 2012 -- and was pleased with his start.
"That is was pretty solid, to be honest. I played nicely ... just one tee shot that kind of slipped away and bounced into a hazard."
Jason Dufner, who won the 2013 U.S. PGA Championship, shot a 73, while amateur Guan Tianlang, who made the cut at last year’s U.S. Masters aged just 14, made a very creditable 71.