SHANGHAI, – Oct. 21, 2004 – Continuing a stellar season for the Thai brigade on the Asian Tour, Somkiat Srisa-Nga scorched to a course-record eight-under-par 64 to hold the first round lead at the $200,000 Crowne Plaza Open, Shanghai 2004.
The unheralded 30-year-old putted imperiously to post a quartet of birdies on each nine at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club, located on the thriving city’s eastern outskirts.
Somkiat leads Japan's Eiji Mizoguchi and Anthony Summers of Australia by two shots, with five other players – Myanmar's Kyi Hla Han, Filipino Gerald Rosales, Australians Alistair Presnell and Terry Pilkadaris and South African Craig Kamps – a further shot back in the race for the Asian Tour event’s US$32,300 first prize.
The leading Chinese player is Xiao Jian-cheng, who is tied for 19th after carding a 70.
Remarkably, seven of Somkiat's eight birdie putts came from more than 15 feet over the par-72, 7,255-yard layout. "My putting was very good. I am normally a strong putter, but today everything was perfect. I really enjoyed it and I only needed to hole one short putt for a birdie," said Somkiat, who is hoping to improve his ranking of 122nd on the money list.
The Hua Hin golfer's 64 comfortably edged the existing course record, a 66 recorded by former Asian number one Simon Dyson of England at this year’s joint-sanctioned BMW Asian Open. Somkiat is hoping to join compatriots Thongchai Jaidee, Thammanoon Srirot, Thaworn Wiratchant and Boonchu Ruangkit as winners this season.
Mizoguchi and Summers were the best of the late field, taking advantage of near perfect playing conditions. In all, 41 players from the field of 132 broke par.
The Japanese was even-par through seven holes before recording three consecutive birdies on two occasions – from the eighth to 10th and 14th to 16th – to give himself a strong start. His Australian counterpart notched four birdies on the back nine.
Myanmar's. Han, who recently qualified for his fifth World Cup with Soe Kyaw Naing, continued his good form with five birdies and an eagle in his 67. That was despite playing sparingly in the last three months due to back problems.
"The course was playing really long earlier in the week, but today it was much more generous. It had dried out after the morning mist, the fairways were firm and the greens were running nicely," said Han.
"It was not playing easy … it was still playing long. But the greens were in good shape and I made some nice putts."
Presnell continued his impressive rookie year on the Asian Tour, reeling off seven birdies – including five in a row at one point. Starting from the 10th, there was little indication of what was to come, as he turned in 36 after a birdie at 18 returned him to level par for the day. However, that fired the Australian into action and was the first of five consecutive birdies. Another birdie at the ninth, his last hole, saw him roar home in 31.
Said Presnell: "The key was really my wedge play. My wedges into all the par-fives were good and three were within tap-in distance. I also holed a couple of good putts. The course is in really nice condition and the greens are great. There was also not too much wind compared to the practice days."
The first day also served up a pair of holes-in-one, with both Prom Meesawat of Thailand and India's Digvijay Singh recording aces. Prom holed a four-iron from 205 yards at the 17th, while Singh struck gold with an eight-iron from 179 yards on the eighth. Sadly, for both players, there were no prizes on offer – other than the honour on the next tee.
Leading first round scores
64 - Somkiat Srisanga (THA)
66 - Eiji Mizoguchi (JPN), Anthony Summers (AUS)
67 - Alistair Presnell (AUS), Craig Kamps (RSA), Kyi Hla Han (MYN), Terry Pilkadaris (AUS), Gerald Rosales (PHI)
68 - Boonchu Ruangkit (THA), Anthony Kang (USA), David Kang (KOR)
69 - Lam Chih Bing (SIN), Mike Cunning (USA), Gurbaaz Mann (IND), Digvijay Singh (IND), Marcus Both (AUS), Anthony Gilligan (AUS), Adam Groom (AUS)
70 - Xiao Jian-Cheng (CHN), Paul Spargo (AUS), Poh Eng Wah (SIN), Thaworn Wiratchant (THA), Greg Hanrahan (USA), Gary Rusnak (USA), Lu Wen-teh (TPE), Xiang Xiao-Xuan (CHN)
71 - Hendrik Buhrmann (RSA), Hong Chia-yuh (TPE), Prom Meesawat (THA), Keith Horne (RSA)
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