Hua hin: American Sihwan Kim broke the course record at the Black Mountain Golf Club yesterday after shooting a 10-under-par 62 to take the lead on day one of the US$1.5 million International Series Thailand.
Thailand's Phachara Khongwatmai also dismantled the course's defences with a 63 while his countryman Itthipat Buranatanyarat, newly crowned Asian Tour No.1 Kim Joo-Hyung and Kim Bi-O from South Korea, Ryou Hisatsune from Japan and Janne Kaske from Finland shot 64s.
Sihwan has been in brilliant form since the Asian Tour restarted at the end of last year and been in the final pairing on Sunday in three events including last week's Royal's Cup although victory has so far eluded him.
"Whatever is done is done. I just plan to play my best this week," said the 33-year-old, who was joint fourth in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship, fourth in the SMBC Singapore Open and tied for second last week.
The American began yesterday's round on the 10th and there wasn't much indication he was about to shoot one of the finest rounds of his career.
"It was an interesting round. I didn't get anything going on the front. After I kind of imploded on 17, when I missed a foot putt by putting it one handed, I just caught fire for some reason, and I kind of got it going," said Sihwan.
He eagled the par-five sixth and 18th, both times reaching the green with a three-wood. He holed from 10 feet on six and 15 feet on the last.
"The golf course is really good. Conditions are great. Greens are picking up speed and the fairways are playing firm," he added.
His front nine of eight-under-par 28 matched the lowest score over nine holes on the Asian Tour. He made eight birdies and two bogeys.
Phachara, who secured his first win on the Asian Tour at the Laguna Phuket Championship at the end of last year, made history in Hua Hin as it was here that he hit global headlines in 2013 at the Singha Hua Hin Open at Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, remarkably as a 14-year-old amateur. He turned professional immediately after that.
"I have good memories of my victory in Hua Hin," said the 23-year-old.
"It was such a great moment for me when all of my game was good, both timing and putting. I think golf depends on right rhythm and timing. When the time is right, you win."