Joint leaders in low scoring opening day

FINLAND’S Sami Valimaki and Denmark’s Martin Simonsen share the lead after an opening day of low scoring in the Thailand Classic.

Valimaki carded eight birdies in a flawless 64 while Simonsen recorded an eagle, seven birdies and a solitary bogey as 82 of the 132-strong field broke par at Amata Spring Country Club.

“It’s a great day,” Simonsen said. “I thought it was going to be difficult out there with the wind and it was, but thankfully I played the par fives really well, which helped.

“Most of them were downwind, so that helped a lot, but you still have to hit the shots.

“I haven’t played the way I’ve scored the last two weeks, so it’s been very, very frustrating for me. I feel like I’ve been playing better than what the scores have said. I’ll just keep doing what I’m

Sami Valimaki

doing and eventually it’ll be OK.”

Simonsen and Valimaki enjoyed a one-shot lead over German duo Alexander Knappe and Yannik Paul, with home favourite Kiradech Aphibarnrat three shots further back after carding six birdies and a double bogey on the 14th.

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre was also part of the group on four under par after finding a solution to his putting issues.

“I’ve done a bit of work and realised it was more mental, not technique”, he said.

SOMERSET captain Tom Abell will miss

England’s upcoming white-ball tour of Bangladesh with a side injury.

The uncapped batter sustained the issue while bowling during England Lions’ win against Sri Lanka A in Colombo on Wednesday.

Abell captained the Lions but was unable to bat in their four-wicket victory and will not join Jos Buttler’s white-ball squad in Bangladesh next month.

“Tom Abell has been ruled out of the England men’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh after suffering a side injury during yesterday’s England Lions match in Colombo,” an England and Wales Cricket Board spokesperson said.