Neven Basic of Australia took the first round lead at the US$750,000 Volvo Masters of Asia with a six-under-par 66 yesterday.
The 30-year-old Australian produced a blemish-free card at Thai Country Club to lead by two shots from Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang and Adam Blyth of Australia in the Asian Tour’s season-ending tournament.
Lin, one of this season’s success stories with two wins, and Blyth shot bogey-free 68s while Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing, runner-up in Cambodia last weekend, was among those lying a further shot back.
PHOTO: AFP
Basic endured a nervous wait after missing the halfway cut in last week’s Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open, placing in doubt his right to play at the Thai Country Club and his playing rights for next year.
Fortunately for Basic, his rivals failed to overhaul him on the rankings.
A five iron tee shot set him up for an opening birdie at the par three third hole which got his game into gear.
PHOTO: AFP
Basic registered five more birdies to take pole position on day one but knows it is still a long road ahead in his hopes for a maiden Asian Tour title.
Lin has two goals this week — win the Volvo Masters of Asia and claim a place in the world’s top-50 which will come with a prized ticket to the US Masters next April.
A two-week break at home gave Lin’s injured shoulder time to heal and he was flawless with four birdies on the card.
“I’m feeling good. I had four lip-outs for birdies but it was still a good round,” said Lin, winner of the UBS Hong Kong Open and the Asian Tour International in Thailand this season.
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