Singapore: Zimbabwe's Scott Vincent is starting to earn the nickname "Mr International Series" after firing a scintillating bogey-free eight-under-par 64 in the opening round of the US$1.5 million International Series Singapore yesterday on the Tampines Course at Tanah Merah Country Club.
Malaysia's No.1 Gavin Green sits in second place after an equally impressive and flawless 65 while Thailand's Sadom Kaewkanjana, Phachara Khongwatmai and Tirawat Kaewsiribandit, Korean Moon Kyong-Jun, Englishman Steve Lewton, and Filipino Juvic Pagunsan carded 67s in severe sauna-like conditions.
Vincent won the International Series England in Newcastle in June and leads the International Series Order of Merit, having tied for 11th in the International Series Thailand in March, and was once again in inspired form in the Asian Tour's new raft of million-dollar plus events.
"It was a great day, just got off to a really nice start, and then the momentum just kept going. As I have said before I am just out here trying to be a little better each day," said Vincent.
He began his round on the back nine, and made birdies on 10, 13, 16 and 18; while on the front side he made gains on one, three, five and eight.
Not everything went his way though as on the par-three sixth he hit what looked like a precision tee shot that was zeroing in on the pin but bumped into his American Sihwan Kim's ball.
Green's round is one of his best in a long time as he has been battling to try and rediscover the kind of form that saw him win the Asian Tour Order of Merit title in 2017.
Sadom also came off the testing Tampines Course bogey free in his attempt to add this week's title to his win in the SMBC Singapore Open in January.
"I had a good start today," said Sadom. "I didn't expect to finish the day with under par because I played in the morning, and I thought it should be windy but it was not. I started at the 10th tee and got two birdies in the first nine holes that made it easier."