Monty on the pace in Shanghai

Montgomerie, teeing off at the 10th hole, started well with a birdie three at the 11th before a run of pars saw him go out in 35.

Another birdie at the first moved the 43-year-old to two under and after nearly chipping in on the fifth, a three at the sixth saw him move to within one of the leader.

Montgomerie did well to save par at the seventh after finding the sand off the tee, eventually coming back in 33 to provide a good platform for the rest of the week as he seeks his first European Tour title since December 2005.

Jacquelin, the early leader in the Volvo China Open last week, picked up four birdies in his impressive outward nine 32 and moved to six under after sinking another at the fifth.

A bogey at the sixth stalled the Frenchman's momentum slightly but that was rectified with a two at the par-three eighth as he came back in 34 to complete a round of 66.

Mark Pilkington, after reaching the turn in 36, birdied the 13th and 15th to bounce back from a dropped shot at the par-three 12th and finish with a round of 71 to sit one under par alongside Retief Goosen. He conceded a bogey five on the fourth, when the South African found the sand with his second shot, which pegged the 38-year-old back after he went out in a two-under-par 34.

James Heath is level par for his round as a birdie at the sixth helped the 24-year-old recover from an eventful opening nine holes that contained two birdies but three bogeys.

Two bogeys on the back nine saw Gareth Davies let slip a promising position as the Sheffield golfer opened with a 73 to sit alongside Graeme McDowell at one over after the Northern Irishman, who tied for second in last week's Volvo China Open, picked up a bogey and a birdie on the back nine after going out in 37.

David Griffiths also lies one over after a 35 back nine improved the 26-year-old's score after an outward nine of 38. Welshman Stephen Dodd also sits on one over as the 40-year-old bogeyed his last hole, the par-five ninth.