Taiwan's Chang Wei-lun leads Asian Tour event in England

Taiwan's Chang Wei-lun said he benefited from some family advice to take a two-shot lead after the first round of the International Series England at Slaley Hill golf course near Newcastle.

Chang carded a six-under-par 65 to finish clear of a six-strong group on 67 in this first Asian Tour event to be staged in England.

"My family gave me some advice before I flew here," said Chang.

"My grandfather is a professional golfer, and my uncle is a coach. They told me the first and third days are the most important. So, I was just trying to stay focused out there. They told me to just play consistently."

The half a dozen leading the chasing pack were Thailand's Jazz Janewattananond, Tanapat Pichaikool, and Kasidit Lepkurte, Korean Joohyung Kim and India's Shiv Kapur and S.S.P. Chawrasia.

The 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell is lying five shots off the lead for this event which serves as a qualifier for next week's $25 million LIV Golf Invitational Series event also in England.

On Wednesday, McDowell and Dustin Johnson were dropped by their sponsor the Royal Bank of Canada over their involvement in the breakaway series which starts on 9 June, the same day as the RBC Canadian Open begins in Toronto.

That came after the PGA Tour threatened players joining the new Saudi-backed golf series will face disciplinary action.