Renolds shoots into first in Philippines
Bidding to keep Asian Tour card, Canadian one ahead of Thai Chinnarat
>> TARLAC: Phuket-based Lindsay Renolds of Canada produced a flawless six-under-par 66 to snatch the first round lead at the weather-shortened Philippine Open yesterday.
Renolds fired six birdies at the US$300,000 event to revive his hopes of securing an Asian Tour card for the new 2016 season.
He was one shot ahead of Thailand’s Chinnarat Phadungsil, home favourite Miguel Tabuena, Gaganjeet Bhullar of India and South Korean rising star Jeunghun Wang, who posted matching 67s at the Luisita Golf and Country Club.
Former Philippine Open champion Mardan Mamat of Singapore, 2011 Order of Merit winner Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines, Johnrey Pactolerin, Giwhan Kim of South Korea and Tirawat Kaewsiribandit of Thailand were a further shot back in tied sixth place.
Officials had earlier postponed the opening round and reduce the Philippine Open to 54 holes due to inclement weather.
Renolds, ranked 95th on the Order of Merit, is on a do-or-die mission to save his Asian Tour card for next year. The Canadian needs nothing less than a victory this week to break into the top-63 on the Order of Merit to retain his Tour card for 2016.
“It is a case of winning or going back to Qualifying School for me this week. I got nothing to lose. I’m trying to stay motivated and focussed,” said the 29-year-old Renolds.
“It was a good day. I hit my driver and irons well. Everything was good and I played the best I could. I don’t have one single highlight, my proximity to the hole was good all day,” he added.
New father Chinnarat, who welcomed a new born son last month, stayed patient in a pressure-packed week where he must maintain or better his 62nd position on the Order of Merit.
“I need to make some money to keep my Asian Tour card,” he said. “I have big pressure because I know I need to have a good result this week. I must stay patient and I hope I can continue to play good.”
The 20-year-old Wang opened his account with six birdies against one bogey as he seeks a first Asian Tour win to repay the faith of Jeev Milkha Singh who selected the Korean as a Captain’s pick to represent Team Asia at the EurAsia Cup next year.
“The course is wet so it is playing long. I holed some long birdies putts which was nice. I only played nine holes (back nine) during the practice round. I was so afraid when I played on the front nine especially on the last hole where I missed a short birdie putt,” said Wang.