Intro:

David Howell, Michael Hendry and Bradley Dredge react to taking the lead on day one of the European Tour's China Open on Thursday (23 April).

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) David Howell, six-under-par:

"Yeah, delighted. It's a really different test this week. We knew it was firm in practice and it was hard to work out how difficult it was going to be, and the improved but, yeah, people are finding it tricky, so four-under, I'm delighted with that."

SOUNDBITE: (English) David Howell, six-under-par:

"Very nice. I struggled a lot off the tee last week (at the Shenzhen Open), I made a lot of birdies but hit a few bad ones off the tee and I drove the ball beautifully today. I really found my rhythm on the range and took that onto the course very nicely. I kept the ball in play well, did a lot of things well today."

SOUNDBITE: (English) David Howell, six-under-par:

"There was a decent breeze out there, a one club wind, I would say. It's the firmness of the greens that's making it difficult for everyone, and the whole course is firm to be honest, as well, so keeping on the fairways isn't all that easy either. But the greens are in great condition and you've really got to think your way round and you can't just blast it and go and find it - you've really got to golf your ball, as they say."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Michael Hendry, six-under-par:

"Yeah, it was, it was pretty solid. I'm pretty happy with that round. If I can tidy it up a little bit off the tee I think it'll bode well for the weekend."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Michael Hendry, six-under-par:

"It's nice, it's a funny game, golf, and when you are in-form you've got to try and make the most of it because you spend most of the time out of form, I suppose. But it's nice to be playing well and hopefully I can continue to do so."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Bradley Dredge, six-under-par:

"Yeah, the greens are really firm so the big thing was if you're hitting fairways you have chances on the par-fives and short irons, but it was never easy getting close to the hole. With slopes on the greens and the firmness it was quite tricky around there, it really was."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Bradley Dredge, six-under-par:

"Yeah, for sure I mean this afternoon the wind's getting up a little bit and it'll be even firmer still, so I'll be surprised if four-under was beaten, that would be some score to beat four. You always come off the course feeling as though you could've done better. There's always a few that are left out there, but I made some good saves as well, so all-in-all 68 is a good score."