Saitama: Danthai Boonma took advantage of a hot start as he fired an opening six-under-par 65 to trail leader Daijiro Izumida by two shots at the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup yesterday.
The bubbly Thai started with four straight birdies before adding five more birdies against three bogeys to stay hot on the heels of home talent Izumida, who produced a superb 63 at the Musashi Country Club.
"I played very well because of my putting. I started with four birdies in a row and that gave me a lot of confidence. My tee shots weren't that good and the three bogeys today came after I hit it in the thick rough," said Danthai.
"Yes, after those birdies I thought it will be a very good day but I kept myself calm and not get ahead of myself. I had fun and kept smiling."
Danthai, a winner on the Asian Tour, shared second place alongside Yuki Inamori and Hiroshi Iwata, while Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng was a further shot back in fifth place at the ¥150 million (approximately US$1.35 million) event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO).
In-form players Gaganjeet Bhullar of India, Justin Harding of South Africa and Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe were among nine players bunched in sixth place with matching 67s.
The story of the day belonged to the 25-year-old Izumida, who continued his momentum following his career's first victory on the JGTO last month. He superbly turned in 30 on the front nine and returned three birdies against one bogey to set the pace.
"It was almost a perfect round because of my ball striking and putting. I didn't have high expectations. During the practice round I was a bit anxious but it turned out really well," said Izumida.
Danthai was on track to challenge Izumida's morning target but the Thai struggled to maintain his charge after his tee shots on holes 14, 18 and four landed in the thick rough which resulted in bogeys.
Prayad, a 10-time Asian Tour champion and multiple winner in Japan, traded six birdies against one bogey to give himself a chance of winning the tournament for the second time since 2008.
"This is my first time playing on this golf course. The rough is very thick here so you need to hit good tee shots. Luckily it isn't a long golf course," said Prayad.
"I've won five times on the senior Tour but this is different. I'm usually more relaxed on the senior Tour because there's no rough but here I have to focus more. My body feels good and I won this tournament before in 2008 but on a different golf course."