Panuphol top of tree after 63

Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat stole the limelight when he fired a sparkling nine-under-par 63 to take the early first round lead at The Championship at Laguna National yesterday.

Singapore’s Quincy Quek kept chase with Panuphol by returning with a 64 to share second place alongside Scotland’s Scott Jamieson, American-Korean David Lipsky and Korea’s Kim Byung-jun at the US$1.5 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera took advantage of the ideal scoring conditions by signing for a 65 to take tied-sixth with Kristoffer Broberg of Sweden after the opening round was delayed by an hour due to lightning.

After missing the cut in his last three starts on the Asian Tour, Panuphol breathed new life into his season with a flawless 63 that would have been the course record if not for the preferred lie ruling in place this week.

Panuphol reached the turn with a brilliant 32 and continued to set the scorching pace with another five birdies for an inward 31.

“It was a good day out there. The weather is good and I holed a lot of putts where some of them were really unexpected.

“I gave myself lots of chances to score and I’m very happy with how I played today. I didn’t see it coming but it did come and I’m feeling good about my game right now,” said Panuphol, who is nicknamed “Coconut” by his parents.

Quek spearheaded the local charge with a round to remember at the Laguna National Golf and Country Club.

“I could not have started any better. The weather has been very kind to us especially after the rain delay this morning. The course is perfect and the greens are rolling so well. That’s where I picked up most of my birdies on the putting greens.

“I holed quite a few long putts. I was just looking at my statistics today. I had 20 putts which I have never get before. It is quite a crazy one for me but we still have three more days to go,” said Quek.

Having won his maiden professional victory on the secondary Asian Development Tour in the Philippines in 2012, the 27-year-old Singaporean is now looking forward to earning his breakthrough on the Asian Tour.

“The putter was working well for me. I gave myself chances by hitting the ball closer than I normally do. Playing well in the first round has definitely put me in a good position going forward. There are still three more rounds to go. I just have to go out there and make as many birdies as I can again,” said Quek.

Lipsky burst into the scene by winning his maiden title in Cambodia after topping the class at the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2012.

The 25-year-old, who has already enjoyed one top-10 in the Philippines in March, is again showing glimpses of his winning form which he attributed to the friendly rivalry he enjoys with Panuphol. “I played with Panuphol today and it was good fun even though he beat me by one. I think we just fed off each other. Honestly, we were just trying to beat each other and that was all we were thinking about,” said Lipsky.

“The course is not very long and it’s in soft conditions. The greens are looking good and I think it is important to make birdies this week. I will have to make more birdies in the next three rounds if I want to stay where I am at right now,” added Lipsky.