Pulkkanen three shots ahead after first round of Volvo China Open

Guangdong native Bai, who is ranked 1,083 in the world, roared into contention with three straight birdies to finish after starting his round on the back nine.

"I'm quite satisfied with today's score, especially given the noticeably stronger winds this afternoon," he said. "Tomorrow is an early tee time and I plan to stick to my strategy. This course is challenging, so patience is key. I'll take it shot by shot."

Wu, the 2015 Volvo China Open champion, said coming to Shanghai felt like a homecoming because it was there he won his first European Tour title. The veteran opened with a round featuring four birdies and a lone bogey after starting on the back nine.

"I'm playing relaxed without too many expectations," he said. "Since last year, I've been dealing with tennis elbow, which has affected my swing a bit. There's still some pain on the downswing, so I'm a little cautious. But I'm keeping a good mindset, not putting pressure on myself, just focusing on recovery and playing freely, like I did today."