Day One of The 38th Shinhan Donghae Open witnessed some remarkably low scoring today with Canadian Richard T. Lee taking the lead with a sensational nine-under-par 62, which is a course-record at Koma Country Club in Nara near Osaka, while Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong returned a 63.
Thailand’s Tirawat Kaewsiribandit was also in rampant form carding a 64, while Korean PGA Tour star Siwoo Kim and his compatriot Taeho Kim, Filipino Juvic Pagunsan, Japan’s Yuki Furukawa and Americans Seungsu Han and Todd Baek fired 65s.
Related: Gaganjeet keen to relive Shinhan Donghae success once more
It’s the first time the tournament, one of Korea’s most prestigious events have been played in Japan, and boasting a purse of KRW1,400,000,000 (approximately US$1,050,500) it is being tri-sanctioned by the Asian, Korean and Japan Tours.
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Lee, aged 31, won this event in 2017 for one of two victories on the Asian Tour, and despite it being held in a different country he felt right at home from-the-get-go. Stating on the back nine he made four birdies and five on his second half.
He said: “Like the fairways here, you gotta hit fairways, the rough is up, and the greens are actually playing pretty fast, but I like fast greens. It was a bogey free round and I felt I took advantage of the par fives pretty well today.”
Lee is clearly coming into good form as he tied for second in the International Series Singapore last month.
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“To be honest I have not had any good results in Japan before, but I have always played well in the Shinhan Donghae Open, which has been kind of funny. I think I just like the atmosphere of this tournament and I think they run it very well,” added Lee.
The previous course record was held by Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino who carded a 63 in the final round of 2019 Kansai Open, on the Japan Tour.
Nitithorn’s undeniable talent and growing reputation as a star of future was on display again today. He is one of only two players to have tasted victory twice this year: in The DGC Open and the International Series Singapore.
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“I didn’t expect to shoot a score like that, but I drove the ball very good – which is key for the course as the next shot is not very far,” said the 25 year old, who was in the first group out today at 6.50am local time.
“I am really happy, it’s awesome, the course is not that long. Every guy came here for a win, and I will certainly try my best to do that. Yes, I won in Singapore and India, but the past is the past, I want to focus on the present.
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Like Lee he started on 10 and was bogey free and birdied five of the last seven holes on the back nine.
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Defending champion Yoseop Seo came in with a 69 while current Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Bio Kim from Korea came in with a 71.
India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, winner of this event in 2016, carded a 72.
