Volvo China Open 2026 First-Round Leader Tips: Dave Tindall's three to back up to 66/1

Volvo China Open weather forecast for Thursday

Rain is in the early forecast at Enhance Anting Golf Club on Thursday.

Winds are fairly steady throughout the day at around 5-7mph but they could gust at double that.

Temperatures are mild, barely reaching the mid-50s.

First Round Leader Bet 1: Wenyi Ding @ 40/141.00

Wenyi Ding will be carrying plenty of home hopes this week.

The 21-year-old, who won the 2022 US Junior Amateur, has already played in four China Opens.

He's risen to the occasion each time, producing finishes of 2-3-7-8, and in his second start he was the first-round leader.

The last time Ding teed it up in his homeland he was third after round one of last month's Hainan Classic.

A couple of weeks ago he was ninth after the first 18 holes of the International Series Japan so fast starts are definitely part of his appeal to punters.

He's a decent 40/141.00 for FRL here so hopefully he can fly from his 07:30 tee-time (10th).

First Round Leader Bet 2: Freddy Schott @ 66/167.00

Freddy Schott heads out at 07:20 from the 10th so hits off just before Ding.

The German has two 18-hole leads in his last five starts: February's Bahrain Open which he won and last month's Indian Open. He shot openers of 65 and 66 respectively.

Schott has played this event just once but managed 11th place at Hidden Grace in 2024.

With a win and two other top 20s in his last five starts, the 24-year-old is playing some good golf and provided more evidence of going low with a closing 63 at the recent South African Open (finished 14th).

His iron play went up a notch in India which is a good sign for this week's test so let's take the 66s.

First Round Leader Bet 3: Jordan Gumberg @ 60/161.00

Jordan Gumberg should enjoy the quick return to China as he won last month's Hainan Classic at Mission Hills.

The 31-year-old American now has two DP World Tour wins after also capturing the 2024 SDC Championship in South Africa.

Gumberg fuelled his wire-to-wire win at the Hainan Classic with a 64 in round one while prior to that he was ninth at halfway in the Joburg Open.

In four starts in China, he has a win and two other top 16s and in all of those he set out with a round in the 60s.

The one most relevant came on this course last year when an opening 67 put him third after the first lap.

He's our afternoon starter at 12:20 from the 1st.

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