Taiwan’s Hung Chien-yao yesterday hit seven birdies and did not drop a shot on the opening day of the True Thailand Classic to finish near the top of the leaderboard, just one shot behind leader Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland.
Level in second place with the 24-year-old Hung on seven-under were Spain’s Carlos Pigem, who on his last three holes recorded two birdies and an eagle to jump up the rankings, and David Lipsky of the US, who hit a bogey on the eighth, but otherwise equaled Hoey with eight birdies.
Hoey took the outright lead with a course record of eight-under-par 64 in good conditions at the Black Mountain Golf Club.
Photo: AFP
“We had 10 or 11 holes with not much wind, which was an advantage teeing off early,” Hoey was quoted by europeantour.com as saying. “I hit the ball well, and it suits me that there’s a bit of length off the tee; you can carry a few corners and reach the par fives in two.”
“It has been a long time since I had a bogey-free card,” the five-time European winner added. “To be bogey-free and have no fives on the card — and a course record — is a nice start. I’m swinging the club well so hopefully I can put three more good rounds together and see what happens.”
Shiv Kapur of India celebrated his 33rd birthday by finishing in fifth place with 6-under 66, two strokes behind the Northern Irishman.
Veteran Taiwanese golfer Lu Wei-chih finished further down the field in equal 74th place with an even-par score of 72 after he alternated bogeys and birdies, but did not manage to finish under par.
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