By David Ferguson

Chinese legend Zhang Lianwei and huge-hitting Australian Kurt Barnes both shot three-under 69 in punishing conditions to lead after the first round of the RMB1.2 million Sofitel Zhongshan IGC Open today in Nanjing, the second event of this year's Omega China Tour.

Teenager James Su Dong, third last year, and Wu Kangchun, the 2007 champion, both shot 70 at the Nanjing Zhongshan International Golf Club. One shot behind were Yuan Hao, Chen Xiaoma, Yu Chunze and Australian Tristan Lambert.

Sofitel Zhongshan IGC Open - Liang Zhanwei with last year's winner Liao Guiming [WorldSportsGroup ]

Zhang is desperate to win the Sofitel title after finishing runner-up in the last two editions and the 43-year-old got off to a strong start in testing conditions that ranged from fierce winds to rain.

"My aim is to win. It's the same at every event I compete in, just sometimes I don't play that well," said Zhang, who birdied holes three, four, 11 and 15, conceding a sole bogey on 10.

"On the first nine, the wind was really strong, so I was happy to get to two-under. Then it started to rain and I was happy to stay at three-under coming in. Also, I've gone back to an old putter for this week and it's working quite well so far."

Zhang has won six titles on the Omega China Tour and the 2006 Omega Order of Merit and spearheads the local charge, which is under threat this week from a 10-strong contingent of Australians invited from the PGA Tour of Australasia.

Barnes is one of seven Australians who travelled to Nanjing from Beijing after competing in last week's Volvo China Open, where he finished joint-11th. The burly 27-year-old regularly drives between 330 to 340 yards and used his pounding tee-shots to good effect over the Gary Player-designed layout.

"After playing well last week, it's great to come here and start off well. I'm happy any time I finish under par, but especially because I was one-over after six holes," said Barnes, whose victories include the 2004 Queensland PGA Championship and 2005 Victorian Open.