Korea’s Ok Tae-hoon and Lee Hyung-joon enjoyed perfect starts as they posted matching first round nine-under-par 63s to set the early pace at the Hana Bank Invitational on Thursday.
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Ok tamed the 7,293 yard, par 72 course at the Heaven Country Club with seven birdies and an eagle while Lee marked his blemish-free card with five birdies and two eagles on a favourable scoring day where conditions were benign.
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“Compared to the practice round yesterday, there was less wind today, which made it easier to attack the greens. Even when my ball landed in the rough, I managed it well and was able to play effectively,” said Lee.
Choi Jin-ho, meanwhile, secured third place on his own with a 64, while Tomoharu Otsuki and Hiroshi Iwata are tied for fourth together with Lee Tae-hee on 65.
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Otsuki’s patient approach in his opening holes where he parred the first three holes before picking his first birdie on the fourth hole, paid off. He gained momentum with five successive birdies from the seventh hole and added another on the closing 18 to stay two shots back of the Korean leaders.
“Getting three straight birdies from the seventh hole helped me get into a good rhythm. My shots were very solid today, and that helped me find that rhythm,” said Otsuki.
