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Inayat upstages stars to take 1-shot Pattaya lead

UNSUNG Nadeem Inayat stunned some of the biggest names in Asian golf with a sizzling six-under 65 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the US$50,000 Singha Pattaya Open, the second leg of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz Tour, yesterday.

The Thailand-based Pakistani opened with four straight birdies and added four more against two bogeys at Burapha Golf Club in Pattaya, Thailand, to upstage favorites Thaworn Wiratchant, Chawalit Plaphol and Prom Meesawat.

Defending champion Kritsada Rangwat of Thailand renewed his love affair with the tournament and looked set to join Inayat at the top of the leaderboard before he bogeyed the last hole for a 66.

Fellow Thai Kwanchai Tannin is a further shot behind after a sensational eagle, birdie, birdie, birdie finish for a 67.

Young guns Rory Hie of Indonesia and former world junior champion Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand are joint fourth after matching 68s.

Inayat, who has played professional golf in Thailand for 10 years, came out firing on all cylinders and he built on his opening four birdies with another three-in-a-row from the eighth hole.

"I am really pleased with the way I played today," said the 40-year-old Inayat, the 2004 Pakistan Open champion. "My feeling was good and I played good."

Kritsada, who beat Scotland's Simon Yates at the third playoff hole to lift the trophy last year, was pleased with his showing despite the last-hole blemish.

"I felt good standing on the first tee today as memories of last year came back," said the 27-year-old Kritsada, who carded four birdies and an eagle at the 14th before his closing bogey.

Kwanchai, the nephew of world No. 47 Prayad Marksaeng who will play at the US Masters next week, ignited his closing fireworks by holing his six-iron approach from 177 yards for an eagle two at the par-four 15th. He also holed from a greenside bunker at the 17th.

Former winners Thaworn and Prom, who both dashed back from the British Open International Final Qualifying in Singapore on Wednesday, posted scores of 71 and 69, respectively.

Chawalit, a winner on both the Asian and Japan Tours, opened with a disappointing two-over 73.





 

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