Steely Prom makes dream start

Prom Meesawat showed steely resolve in his bid to end an eight-year winless drought on the Asian Tour, surging to a seven-under-par 65 to grab a share of the first-round lead with Rikard Karlberg of Sweden in the US$1-million King’s Cup at the Black Mountain Golf Club yesterday.

After coming close to winning his second Asian Tour title with two play-off defeats in the Philippines and Hong Kong late last year, Prom is upbeat about his chances of returning to the winner’s circle for the first time since 2006.

“I’ve already got those two play-off defeats out of my mind and I’ve been telling myself to concentrate on this week and the new season so that I can get my second win,” said the 29-year-old Prom who marked his card with two eagles, five birdies and two bogeys.

“Actually such conditions are not really new to me as I’ve played in similar conditions before. I had a good experience playing in Europe where they are strong winds. It really helped me with my club selection,” said the Hua Hin native.

 “Those two eagles got me a low score but there are still three more days to go,” added Prom.

Prom, nicknamed the Big Dolphin due his burly physique, does not have to look far for support as his legion of fans including his wife is keenly following his progress this week.

“It’s a good week for me as I get to stay with my dad in Hua Hin, sleep on my own bed and have my family following and supporting me. I’ll try to play well and make them and also the Thai people happy. I’ll keep trying my best,” said Prom. Karlberg found more bliss in his life as he enjoyed a commanding start to the season.

Karlberg, who recently got engaged to his long-time girlfriend, was in splendid form at the picturesque Black Mountain Golf Club, which is also the Swede’s home course.

“Everything’s going so well in my life especially with my engagement to Pernilla and I just want to enjoy my golf now,” said Karlberg.

Karlberg’s only blemish came at the par-four 15 where he double-bogeyed but seven birdies and one eagle kept the 27-year-old well positioned for his third win on the region’s premier Tour.

“It was so windy but I stayed in the game even though I had a double-bogey but I did well to finish off the round. I hit some great shots and holed many putts coming in. So I’m very pleased with my result,” said the Swede.

 Filipino Angelo Que, who fired seven birdies against a lone bogey on the 12th for an opening 66, took the third place which was shared by Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang who drilled five birdies at the front nine.

Two strokes behind was Prayad Marksaeng who carded six birdies against two bogeys for a 68 which placed him at joint fourth along with Australian Kieran Pratt. 

Thai young gun Thitiphun Chuayprakong, who is desperate to secure his tour card, opened with a 69 to be at seventh along with countrymen Pavit Tangkamolprasert, Namchok Tantipokhakul, Chawali Plaphol, India’s Anirban Lahiri, South Korean Kim Gi-wan and Australian Adam Groom.

“I felt that I was a bit lucky in the round. I had one chip in from seven yards on the fourth hole and holed a long birdie putt [20 footer] on the third hole. I know I need a good result this week and I’m very excited with the challenge. I’ve practised a lot and I’m ready to play well. Previously I struggled a lot with my short game. A lot of Thai players told me that my chipping is not good. But Thaworn, Chawalit, Prom and Pariya have helped me to improve in my game,” said Thitiphun currently at 65th on the Order of Merit.

India’s Anirban Lahiri rued a costly double-bogey on the seventh hole to slip four shots back of Prom and Karlberg after he returned with a 69.

Starting on the 10th, Lahiri was cruising towards another promising start with five birdies on holes 16, 17, 18, three and five.

However, a miscalculated shot on the seventh ruined an otherwise perfect day for Lahiri who is also seeking to earn his place with Team Asia at the inaugural EurAsia Cup in Malaysia in March.

“I’m obviously disappointed to finish the way I did but I think I played really well,” said Lahiri.