Indians set a blazing pace

Heavy favourite Anirban Lahiri of India fired an error-free 65 to share the opening round lead with compatriot SSP Chowrasia in the US$500,000 King’s Cup at the 7,449-yard Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Course yesterday.

Chasing the year-end’s Order of Merit title, the Bangalore-based golfer produced his seventh birdie on the finishing hole to surge to the top of the leader board, joined by Chowrasia who shot eight birdies against a lone bogey on his closing hole, the par-four ninth.

Anirban is a contender for the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit title. He has earned US$521,512 this season and is second on the money list behind American David Lipsky, who has grossed US$682,610.

“I played really solid today right from the start and gave myself lots of chances. I took a couple of them but also missed a few, but overall it has been a good day. The course was playing accessible today and I’m glad I played well. There’s still a long way to go as it’s just the first day but I’m happy with my start. I’ve got to keep pushing on from here,“ said Lahiri, who has won two titles this year, in Indonesia and Macau.

Chowrasia clinched a title in New Delhi last month, his third win on the Asian Tour. This year, golfers from India have been dominating the Asian Tour, winning five events. A fortnight ago, Rashid Khan of India triumphed in Chiang Mai.

 “Indian players are doing very well this year and I’ll try to win my first title abroad this week. My season has been very good. I didn’t play well at Q School in Europe but I’m doing well in Asia,” said Chowrasia.

Thailand’s new sensation Danthai Boonma, the Youth Olympic Games and Asian Games bronze medallist, made an impressive debut as a pro, firing an unblemished 66 for tied third place along with countryman Phiphatphong Naewsuk, who started with four successive birdies, and Australia’s Kalem Richardson, who had a bogey-free round.

Danthai, the 18-year-old from Sukhothai, got a wild card from the Sports Authority of Thailand to enter the tournament and he decided to launch his professional career.

“It was unexpected, to start my first day as a pro and be on the leaderboard. I came here hoping just to hit an even-par score and after two days to make the cut. Playing in a professional event is different from representing the country in the SEA Games or Asian Games where people expected a lot from you,” said the 18-year-old Danthai. “I hit the irons well and barely missed the fairways. I stuck to my game plan by hitting the fairways and tried to shoot birdies on par-five holes. It was really exciting at the start of the day but playing alongside Pawin [Ingkhapradit] and Supravee [Phatham] really helped me relax,” said the teenager, touted as the next big thing in Thai golf.

A stroke behind at tied sixth were Spain’s Carlos Pigem, South Korea’s Mo Joong-kyung and Sweden’s Daniel Chopra, each with a 67.

Thai stars Prom Meesawat and Thaworn Wiratchant hit 68s to take ninth position, shared with several players including in-form Mardan Mamat of Singapore, the winner in Manila last week.