Kiradech starts strongly again
Colsaerts’ opening-round effort boosts hopes of ending a five-year winless drought
>> ANTALYA: Kiradech Aphibarnrat shot a five-under-par 65 in the first round of the Turkish Airlines Open to stay two strokes off the lead on Thursday.
The Thai was joint sixth along with Eddie Pepperell, Matthieu Pavon and Ian Poulter.
Kiradech also had a good start at last week’s WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai only to run out of steam and finish tied for 24th.
Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts took full advantage of his length off the tee in shooting a 64 to share the lead on day one.
Colsaerts was the very first to teeoff at the Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort course and capped his round with a 12th-hole eagle along with six birdies in ideal scoring conditions.
The only real worry for Colsaerts was arriving at the scorer’s hut to find the door locked.
The 34-year-old was later joined by South African Haydn Porteous and Dutchman Joost Luiten.
“It felt good out there and I was in control of what I was doing all day,” said the Belgian, who reaped the benefits of a recent switch to a new driver.
“It did take a few holes to get going but once I did, I started to get on a roll. I had a nice eagle on 12 that kept everything going including a birdie at the next.
“The big key today was my driver as I have changed to another Callaway driver. It seems like I can do what I want with this one a bit more. I’m really happy with the way it’s been going.
“I’ve been using it since the British Masters and the results that I have done are basically because I’m a bit more comfortable off the tee and I can use that good driving, which was, you know, one of the main or key things that I did well in the past.
“Once I’m comfortable off the tee and show up with half a strike, I’m always going to be there.”
Colsaerts’ opening-round effort again boosted hopes of ending a five-year winless drought with a third European Tour victory.
The Johannesburg-born Porteous recorded his equal-lowest European Tour score — a bogey-free display of seven birdies matched a 64 he posted during May’s Rocco Forte Open in Sicily.