Thailand’s Natipong Srithong posted a classy bogey-free nine-under-par 63 to take the lead after round one of the Yeangder TPC today at Linkou International Golf and Country Club.
Nine birdies, including four-in-row from the 12th, saw him take to the front ahead of Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren, in with a 64.
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Defending champion Travis Smyth from Australia returned a 65, along with Kosuke Hamamoto and Chapchai Nirat from Thailand, Chinese-Taipei amateur Su Ching-hung, and Hong Kong’s Matthew Cheung.
India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, the winner here in 2012, finished with a 66, with seven others.
Natipong has won once before on the Asian Tour, at the 2015 Resorts World Manila Masters – which was only his fourth event on the Asian Tour – and has made the perfect start to try and add to that, although he rode his luck with some wayward tee shots.
“Today was a good day,” said the Thai golfer, a qualified lawyer and former amateur star, having won gold medals in the team and individual events at the 2015 Southeast Asia Games in Singapore.
“I hit three bad shots with my driver. On hole four I hit my driver right, it hit the cart path, and landed on another fairway. I then hit my second shot onto the green and made birdie. Then on hole nine, hit it right again, hit the cart path to another fairway. I hit two on and made par, and on another hole, I drove into the trees, but the ball bounced back, and from there I made birdie.”
Hellgren, tied third here last season, eagled the first and 10th holes, made five birdies, and dropped one shot.
“First time I have made two eagles in a round on the Asian Tour, last summer I had back-to-back eagles,” said the Swede, who leads the driving distance statistics on Tour.
“I played great. Nobody in my group knew where I was at as I kept missing putts and when we got to the hole I was always close. It could have been really lower, but I am not disappointed. The greens are tough. I am looking forward to the rest of the week. I am here with a new caddie, and we are going for the win!”
Smyth, whose victory last year was his first on the Asian Tour, summed up his day by saying: “This golf course loves me, and I love it!”
Having begun on the back nine he had an incredible run of holes starting from the 17th, which he birdied, and then went birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie.
“It was very, very good. Played solidly, got off to a slow start, and then the middle part was insane, probably the biggest hot streak I have ever had,” he said.
“Initially I kept missing putts within 15 feet. I was getting a little frustrated as my playing partners got off to good starts. But then I hit a great shot into 17 and made birdie there. 18 is a short par-five were I was able to capitalise.
“The first hole is also a short par-five that I hit nine iron into, and on the second hole thought I would hit driver and go for the green. I missed it a little to the left but luckily I had a gap through the trees. I hit a great chip shot from about 20 metres that landed on the green and rolled into the hole. This golf course is very short so you can definitely have streaks like that.”
Asian Games-bound Su, just 22 years old, and playing in this event for just the second time also enjoyed a bogey free day, posting seven birdies.
He said: “I first played in 2017 when I was 16 years old and I made the cut then. Nice to be back playing here this week. I’m hoping for a good result as it will be a great boost in confidence for me for the Asian Games next week. Everything went well today. I drove the ball good, my iron-play was good and I putted well. Seven birdies and no bogeys, can’t complain. Nice to finish with a chip-in birdie on the 9th.”
Preferred lies were played on an extremely hot but calm day.
