Glasses off, confident Panuphol trails leader by three
LINKOU: Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat shot an opening three-under-par 69 to trail leader Hung Chien-yao by three shots at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship yesterday.
Panuphol was among four players tied for third place on 69 while Malaysia’s Ben Leong also enjoyed a promising start when he returned with a 68 to take second place.
Taiwan’s Hung broke clear of the chasing pack with an ace and a birdie in his last two holes to snatch the first round lead by two shots at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club.
Hung’s hole-in-one was the second he has recorded since he turned professional in 2012 and provided the 26-yearold with the bright spark on a rainy day where only 11 players broke par at the US$500,000 event.
“I didn’t realise I made a hole-in-one as it was quite dark. But I heard someone shouting that the ball has gone inside the hole. I’m happy,” said Hung.
“Somehow I felt very comfortable and confident when I stepped up to the tee today. I guess I had some element of luck.”
Panuphol, who underwent a Lasik eye surgery recently, stayed in the hunt for his third Asian Tour victory and revelled in the rain with four birdies and a bogey.
“It was very tough with the wind blowing and the rain. So I’m obviously very happy with my 69. I hope to keep the momentum going,” said Panuphol.
“It’s just another day at the office. I have to play my own game. I did my Lasik and I’m happy I don’t need to use glasses anymore. So there’s no more excuse of difficulty in playing in the rain. I’m more comfortable playing in the rain now than before,” added the 25-year-old Thai.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
(Par-72, a denotes amateur)
66 — Hung Chien-yao (TPE)
68 — Ben Leong (MAS)
69 — Yeh Yu-chen (TPE), Panuphol Pittayarat (THA), Xiao Bowen (CHN), Kim Si-Hwan (USA)
70 — John Catlin (USA)
71 — Kim Gi-Whan (KOR), Prom Meesawat (THA), Jake Higginbottom (AUS), Andrew Martin (AUS)
72 — Matt Stieger (AUS), Nattawat Suvajanakorn (THA), Juvic Pagunsan (PHI), Micah Lauren Shin (USA), Lin Wen-ko (TPE), Khalin Joshi (IND), Malcolm Kokocinski (SWE), Himmat Rai (IND), Marcus Both (AUS), Lee Sung-Ho (KOR), Miguel Tabuena (PHI), SSP Chawrasia (IND), Justin Harding (RSA), Adilson Da Silva (BRA), Gareth Paddison (NZL)