Dou, a 16-year-old from China, opens with a 68 to take lead in Asia Pacific Amateur

In this photo released by the Asia -Pacific Amateur Championship, Taiwan's Pan Cheng-tsung watches his shot during round one of the Asia -Pacific Amateur Championship golf tournament at Nanshan International Golf Club, Garden Course, in Longkou City, China on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Lakatos, AAC) NO LICENSING (The Associated Press)

In this photo released by the Asia -Pacific Amateur Championship, Dou Zecheng of China putts during round one of the Asia -Pacific Amateur Championship golf tournament at Nanshan International Golf Club, Garden Course, in Longkou City, China on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013. (AP Phtoo/Paul Lakatos, AAC) NO LICENSING (The Associated Press)

LONGKOU CITY, China – Dou Zecheng opened with a 3-under 68 on Thursday to take a two-shot lead at the Asia-Pacific Amateur.

Dou started off well in cool, windy conditions at Nanshan International Golf Club and raised hopes that another Chinese teenager might be in the Masters next year. The winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur earns an exemption to the Masters and to the final stage of qualifying for the British Open.

Guan Tianlang, the defending champion who went on to make the cut at Augusta National as a 14-year-old, struggled to a 74.

Dou, who made the cut this year in the China Open, had a two-shot lead over Lee Chang-woo of South Korea. Brady Watt, the Australian who reached the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur, was another shot back after a 71.