Veteran Prayad among four way leaders in Queen's Cup

The 51-year-old red hot Prayad, who just came back from two straights Senior titles in Tochigi and Ibaraki, shot five birdies, one eagle and a lone bogey to emerge one of the co-leaders which also featured unfancied Chanat Sakulpolphaisan, three-time Asian Tour winner Angelo Que of the Philippines and 2014 Chiangmai Classic winner Rashid Khan of India.

The  hilly nature of the  par 71 6,851 yard course dubbed as the “Beast of Samui” in fact benefited the former champion Prayad who is quite familiar with this condition back in Japan.

Playing on this type of course, you have to hit good shots and have some game plan. It’s very similar to Japan. Physically, I’m still OK. I felt a bit tired coming from hilly course last week in Japan but it’s no big deal. But the good thing is we can use buggies for many holes here,” said Prayad the conqueror of this course back in 2013 and 2015.

“I hit the driver exceptionally well while my iron shots and putts were also quite OK. If you didn’t hit the tee shots well, you are likely to make errors. Actually, I just want to come here and have some relax before going to the US Senior Tour. But with a good start like this, who knows what’s going to happen,” added Prayad who won an Asian Tour title in the Singapore Open this year.

The little known Chanat from Chonburi sank eight birdies against two bogeys on the seventh and 13 th holes to be among the leaders for the first time on the Asian Tour. His earlier best was at second after the opening round of the Thailand Championships in 2015 but finished poorly outside top 60 after four days.

“I’m quite surprised myself also (to be on the lead). I hope to maintain this in the few days,” said the quietly spoken Chanat whose only one career win occurred on the ADT event at the Nilais Spring Golf and Country Club in Malaysia 2015, ADT event. The Mississippi State University graduate just earned his Tour card in January.

“I  will try to calm down and not to hit to the hazards.  I have to hit in the middle, keep the ball in play and not to lose  strokes.  I will try to play my game and stay focused,” said Chanant hoping to get into his momentum after making only one cut in the Thailand Open.

Despite arriving on Wednesday’s night, the 38-year-old Que showed no sign of jet-lag as he shot six birdies at the back nine where he started before swapping two birdies with two bogeys at the front.

“I was in good form two weeks ago , so I was pretty confident with my game. I really enjoyed out there with the good company of Richard T Lee and Chapchai Nirat. I always play well when I played with them,” said the Filipino.

Defending champion Scott Hend of Australia opened with a 71, two  behind Thailand Open champion Rattanon Wannasrichan and last year’s runner-up Gunn Charoenchaikul.