DAVID Howell was delighted to overcome a tricky Shanghai test to hold the joint lead after the first round of the Volvo China Open this morning.

The Swindon star carded five birdies in a round of 68 to hold a share of top spot with Welshman Bradley Dredge and New Zealand's Michael Hendry at the testing Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club.

Howell, who was fourth in the Shenzhen International on Sunday, birdied four of his last 10 holes, including holing from 40 feet on the 17th.

"I'm delighted, it's a really different test this week," said the two-time Ryder Cup star, who won the last of his five European Tour titles in the Dunhill Links Championship in 2013.

"We knew it was firm in practice, but it was hard to work out how difficult it was going to be. The scoring showed people are finding it tricky.

"My caddie said it was almost like a linksy challenge. It couldn't be any less links-like in some ways, here we are in the middle of a city, but it is in terms of ground conditions.

"There's lots of putting from off the greens so it's a different test but one I was certainly looking forward to taking on."

“There was a bit of a breeze at the start of the round, but the main challenge is the firmness of the greens. The whole course is very firm to be honest, so keeping your ball in play is a real challenge. 

"But the course is in great condition, and I like courses where you have to think your way round rather than just standing on the tee and blasting it.''

France's Alexander Levy made an excellent start to the defence of his title, carding five birdies and two bogeys in an opening 69.