Korea’s Noh Seung-yul kept up his charge for the biggest win of his career when he posted an even-par 72 to take a share of seventh place alongside England’s Ross Fisher at the US$7million WGC-HSBC Champions on Friday.

Noh is four shots off the lead after a two-day total of five-under-par 139 but he is still confident of putting himself back into contention once the weekend rounds start.

Italy's Francesco Molinari renewed his love affair with the Middle Kingdom when he posted a seven-under-par 65 to take the opening round lead at the WGC-HSBC Champions on Thursday.

England's Lee Westwood also showed why he is deserving of being the best player in the world by returning with a 66 to take second place despite still nursing an injury while Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Noh Seung-yul of Korea stamped his mark with a 67 to take a share of third place alongside Japan's Yuta Ikeda and Sweden's Henrik Stenson.

Colin Montgomerie, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Grégory Bourdy will lead the cast of former European champions to the Fanling stage at the forthcoming UBS Hong Kong Open.

Montgomerie, Europe's victorious Ryder Cup Captain, and Jiménez, one of Monty's star men in the unforgettable victory over the USA at Celtic Manor earlier this month, will be joined by defending UBS Hong Kong Open champion Bourdy in The European Tour's penultimate event of the 2010 season.

Korean teen titan Noh Seung-yul passed his opening round test with flying colours when he carded a sublime five-under-par 67 to take a share of third place alongside Japan's Yuta Ikeda and Sweden's Henrik Stenson at the WGC-HSBC Champions on Thursday.

Noh also underlined his credentials as one of the rising stars of the game by going one-up against the tournament's marquee names that include American Tiger Woods (tied-sixth), defending champion Phil Mickelson (tied-ninth) and fellow teen wonders Japan's Ryo Ishikawa (tied-35th) and Matteo Manassero of Italy (tied-23rd).