KUALA LUMPUR: National junior Geraldine Wong carded a one-under 70 to trail surprise pacesetter Mohammad Rasel of Bangaladesh by four shots at the FALDO Series Asia Grand Final on Wednesday.

Wong was among only 11 players in the elite 85-strong field who bettered par at the acclaimed Faldo Design layout at Laguna Lăng Cô in Danang, Vietnam.

The 16-year-old’s effort saw her open up a two-shot lead from highly-rated Japanese Minori Nagano in the girls’ division.

Wong, who finished runner-up at the Kuala Lumpur Amateur Open last week, continued her good form, chipping in from off the back of the green at 18 to ensure a sub-par return.

“I just want to do my best and hopefully, the results will follow,” said Wong, who has earned a golf scholarship to the University of Central Arkansas.

The other four Malaysians in the field, however struggled to impose themselves in the opening round.

Sarawak’s Lim Beng Keat, who emerged victorious at the Faldo Series Malaysia Championship last year, carded a five-over 76 with Casper Loh Wei Kin of Sabah a further two strokes adrift. Jacqueline Nickels Mojulat and Audrey Tan returned with rounds of 84 and 85 respectively.