China's Yuan, Singapore's Yap in four-way tie at Qingdao Championship

HAIYANG, SHANDONG, CHINA—Chinese amateur "Carl" Yuan Yechun fired nine birdies in a 6-under 66 to share the first-round lead with Singapore's Jesse Yap, America's Charlie Netzel and England's Michael Skelton at the RMB 1.5 million Qingdao Championship, the eighth event of this year's PGA TOUR Series-China.

England's Callum Tarren, who has five runner-up finishes on the Tour since his debut in 2016, shot 67 to lie fifth at Tiger Beach Golf Links, a sister course to Carnoustie, host of The Open Championship this week.

Japan's Ryoma Iwai shot 68 to take sixth, one ahead of Australia's Max McCardle, Chinese Taipei's Chunkang “Jacob” Hung and American Kevin Techakanokboon.

Yuan, 21, tied for third at last week's Yantai Championship and started with two birdies before adding two more on the front nine against two bogeys to make the turn at 2-under. On the back nine, he picked up further birdies on Nos. 11, 12, 14, 15 and 17 before closing with a bogey.