HONG KONG: Thailand's Ekpharit Wu was five strokes behind the clubhouse leader in the first round of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship yesterday.
Thailand's Ekpharit Wu.
Ekpharit was the best Thai in the opening round after he fired a three-under-par 67 at Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club.
China's Jin Cheng made a 62 to take the clubhouse lead as play was suspended due to rain with 72 players still to complete their rounds.
Sangchai Kaewcharoen fired four birdies and one bogey for three-under with two holes to play.
Atiruj Winaicharoenchai shot a 68 while Sarit Suwannarut and Khemkhon Limbhasut hit 69s and Sadom Kaewkanjana struggled with a 71.
Thailand's top amateur Khemkhon, 19, said he could not putt because of the green speed.
"Hopefully, I can make putts tomorrow," said the US-based player.
Clubhouse leader Jin shot one eagle, seven birdies and a bogey for a 62, two ahead of Singapore's Gregory Foo.
Jin, who is making his fourth appearance in the tournament, said that the key to his good round was hitting a lot of greens and fairways.
"I hit the ball really well and missed only one fairway," he said.
The winner will earn a ticket to next year's Masters and, together with the runner-up, a place in the British Open qualifying series.
Meanwhile, the eighth edition of the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship will take place at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in South Korea next year and the ninth tournament will be held at Royal Wellington Golf Club in New Zealand in 2017.
In Taipei, Malaysia's Danny Chia took the early lead during the opening round of Mercuries Taiwan Masters yesterday after finishing with a five-under-par 67.
Chia, the highest ranked Malaysian, finished one shot ahead of India's Rashid Khan at Taiwan Golf and Country Club.
The 42-year-old credited the day's fair conditions for carding two eagles and two birdies during the opening round of the four-day tournament.
"I am very pleased with how I played," he said. "I have played a lot of times on this course and today's playing conditions has got to be one of the best so far."
The tournament's youngest player, 16-year-old Phachara Khongwatmai, ended the day tied for third. The young Thai holds the record of being the youngest winner on the Asian Development Tour.
"My putting was superb today," said Phachara. "I played in the morning and it was not so windy so it was an advantage."