Thongchai, Kim set pace at Volvo China Open
April 16, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THAILAND'S Thongchai Jaidee and Kim Do-hoon of South Korea were tied for the first-round lead on eight-under 64 at the China Open in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, yesterday.
Playing alongside Ryder Cup captains Colin Montgomerie (Europe) and Corey Pavin (United States) at the Jinji Lake Golf Club, Thongchai made his mark by sinking short putts for birdies at the par-four 16th and par-three 17th.
Kim later joined him on top of the leaderboard with birdies at his two closing holes - the eighth and ninth.
Thongchai was back in action after an elbow injury caused him to withdraw in the second round of last week's US Masters.
"If my health stays okay over the next few days I hope to get better and better," the Thai told reporters.
"I hit a lot of fairways and greens and made a lot of putts today."
Kim followed up victory on his home tour last week by reeling off eight birdies and an eagle.
"I played very well, it was my third 64 in three weeks," said the Korean.
Woolly hats were the order of the day on a cold and windy morning that must have felt more like Scotland than Suzhou to the early starters but China's Liang Wenchong and Pablo Larrazabal of Spain set a hot pace.
Both players had seven birdies and a bogey to shoot 66s, a score matched later by Briton Jamie Donaldson.
One stroke further adrift on 67 were Irish pair Damien McGrane, the 2008 winner, and Peter Lawrie, Hong Soon-sang of South Korea and American Pavin. World No. 16 Henrik Stenson of Sweden and US PGA champion Yang Yong-eun of South Korea carded 68s.
Chinese amateur Hu Mu, 20, and 18-year-old Korean Noh Seung-yul, winner of last month's Malaysian Open, were among a group of players to shoot 69.
Another, local amateur Zhang Jin, 14, the youngest player to qualify for the US$2.5 million European Tour event, opened with a creditable 73.
The teenager looked very much at home early on, playing a fine tee shot to 15 inches at the par-three sixth and reaching the ninth tee at two under. But he slipped back with bogeys at the ninth, 14th and 18th.
Montgomerie had to settle for a 72 despite carding six birdies.
Thongchai, 40, shot his remarkable bogey-free round despite his terrible preparation, the Thai picking up his first shot on the fifth. He bagged a hat-trick of birdies from seven to nine, then chipped in for eagle on the par-five 14th. ?
Kim, 21, also eagled the 14th as he carded a 64 for the third straight week. The Busan resident closed with an eight-under round to finish joint-third at OneAsia's season-opening Luxehills Chengdu Open before firing another 64 in his first Korean Tour victory at last week's Tomato Savings Bank Open.
"I played really well and am in good form. I eagled the 14th with a 240-yard utility club approach, then holed a long putt from 15 yards," said Kim, who only turned 21 last Sunday. "I'm not expecting to shoot a 64 again, but we'll see."
Liang teed off on the 10th and fired off three straight birdies, picking up further shots at 14 and 16 before recording his sole bogey on 18 after lipping out with his second putt. He also birdied three and five.?
The Chinese No. 1 is aiming to secure a third successive OneAsia title in China after winning Luxehills earlier this month and the Midea China Classic last October.
"I had a great start as I started with three straight birdies, so that put me in a confident mood. It was still cold today, so I was pleased to score as well as I did," said the 31-year-old, who has long held the dream of winning his national Open.
"I've prepared well for this tournament, so I knew what to expect in terms of the weather."
Larrazabal was five-under after playing the front nine. The 26-year-old, who won the Open de France Alstom in 2008 when he was also named Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year, picked up his solitary bogey on 13 before responding with birdies on 14 and 17.
"I was wide awake for my tee-time at 6.40 as I only had three hours' sleep because I still have jet-lag," said the livewire Spaniard, whose elder brother Alejandro is carrying his bag this month.
"I played the front nine perfectly, and I am putting very well."
Playing alongside Ryder Cup captains Colin Montgomerie (Europe) and Corey Pavin (United States) at the Jinji Lake Golf Club, Thongchai made his mark by sinking short putts for birdies at the par-four 16th and par-three 17th.
Kim later joined him on top of the leaderboard with birdies at his two closing holes - the eighth and ninth.
Thongchai was back in action after an elbow injury caused him to withdraw in the second round of last week's US Masters.
"If my health stays okay over the next few days I hope to get better and better," the Thai told reporters.
"I hit a lot of fairways and greens and made a lot of putts today."
Kim followed up victory on his home tour last week by reeling off eight birdies and an eagle.
"I played very well, it was my third 64 in three weeks," said the Korean.
Woolly hats were the order of the day on a cold and windy morning that must have felt more like Scotland than Suzhou to the early starters but China's Liang Wenchong and Pablo Larrazabal of Spain set a hot pace.
Both players had seven birdies and a bogey to shoot 66s, a score matched later by Briton Jamie Donaldson.
One stroke further adrift on 67 were Irish pair Damien McGrane, the 2008 winner, and Peter Lawrie, Hong Soon-sang of South Korea and American Pavin. World No. 16 Henrik Stenson of Sweden and US PGA champion Yang Yong-eun of South Korea carded 68s.
Chinese amateur Hu Mu, 20, and 18-year-old Korean Noh Seung-yul, winner of last month's Malaysian Open, were among a group of players to shoot 69.
Another, local amateur Zhang Jin, 14, the youngest player to qualify for the US$2.5 million European Tour event, opened with a creditable 73.
The teenager looked very much at home early on, playing a fine tee shot to 15 inches at the par-three sixth and reaching the ninth tee at two under. But he slipped back with bogeys at the ninth, 14th and 18th.
Montgomerie had to settle for a 72 despite carding six birdies.
Thongchai, 40, shot his remarkable bogey-free round despite his terrible preparation, the Thai picking up his first shot on the fifth. He bagged a hat-trick of birdies from seven to nine, then chipped in for eagle on the par-five 14th. ?
Kim, 21, also eagled the 14th as he carded a 64 for the third straight week. The Busan resident closed with an eight-under round to finish joint-third at OneAsia's season-opening Luxehills Chengdu Open before firing another 64 in his first Korean Tour victory at last week's Tomato Savings Bank Open.
"I played really well and am in good form. I eagled the 14th with a 240-yard utility club approach, then holed a long putt from 15 yards," said Kim, who only turned 21 last Sunday. "I'm not expecting to shoot a 64 again, but we'll see."
Liang teed off on the 10th and fired off three straight birdies, picking up further shots at 14 and 16 before recording his sole bogey on 18 after lipping out with his second putt. He also birdied three and five.?
The Chinese No. 1 is aiming to secure a third successive OneAsia title in China after winning Luxehills earlier this month and the Midea China Classic last October.
"I had a great start as I started with three straight birdies, so that put me in a confident mood. It was still cold today, so I was pleased to score as well as I did," said the 31-year-old, who has long held the dream of winning his national Open.
"I've prepared well for this tournament, so I knew what to expect in terms of the weather."
Larrazabal was five-under after playing the front nine. The 26-year-old, who won the Open de France Alstom in 2008 when he was also named Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year, picked up his solitary bogey on 13 before responding with birdies on 14 and 17.
"I was wide awake for my tee-time at 6.40 as I only had three hours' sleep because I still have jet-lag," said the livewire Spaniard, whose elder brother Alejandro is carrying his bag this month.
"I played the front nine perfectly, and I am putting very well."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
