There was a moment on Thursday when history looked like being made at the Link Hong Kong Open, and while forgiving greens and some generous pins meant normal service was later restored, the glimpse on offer was of a local game in rude health. For the first time since the tournament began in 1959, two Hongkongers – Isaac Lam and Matthew Cheung – briefly sat at the top of the leaderboard at six-under-par. By the end of the day they were far from alone and further down the field than they might...

In the 67 years the Link Hong Kong Open has been in existence, the leaderboard has never featured two local players at the top – Matthew Cheung and Isaac Lam briefly changed that on Thursday. Out among the morning groups, the pair carded matching six-under-par 64s, a score South Korea’s Kim Mink-yu also posted, to sit one-stroke clear of a bunched chasing pack at Hong Kong Golf Club. The trio were later overhauled by Jazz Janewattananond and Poosit Supupramai, who shot 63s, while Anirban Lahiri...