Thanyakorn passes tough test

In-form Thanyakorn Khrongpha carded a first-round 69 to share the lead with Australia’s Marcus Fraser, Canada’s Richard Lee and Taiwan’s Lu Wei-chih in the US$1-million Thailand Gold Championship at the Amata Spring Country Club yesterday.

The red-hot local, fresh from a run of two runners-up finishes and a third place, sank four birdies and a lone bogey on the third hole to steal the thunder from star players at the 7,488-yard par-72 layout.

“I didn’t like this course because the rough was thick and I didn’t do well during practice, but it turned out I produced a good score in the first round. I was shocked how I managed to pull it off. I didn’t drive that well but I hit a lot of fairways,” said the 24-year-old from Khon Kaen, who lost by just two strokes to Padraig Harrington at the Indonesian Open in Jakarta last week.

“I was excited to be playing here but I felt no pressure. I’m not competing with other famous players, just focusing on my own game and trying to keep hitting fairways,” added the Thai young gun.

Australia’s Fraser, playing only his second event of this year’s Asian Tour following a long layoff with a wrist injury, shot five birdies against two bogeys.

“It’s pretty tough out there – that rough is pretty penal. Luckily, I don’t think I hit it in there all day, which was nice. Hopefully that continues for the week,” said the 36-year-old, who settled for fifth in his comeback tournament in Hong Kong two months ago.

Lee, who is of Korean descent, sank three birdies on the front nine but stumbled to a bogey on the second hole, before recovering with a birdie on the fourth to put himself atop the leader board.

Former world No 1 Lee Westwood followed a stroke behind at joint fifth with a 70, along with Scott Hend of Australia and Thai qualifier Tirawat Kaewsiribandit. “The golf course is playing a lot tougher. Rough is very thick this year. 

Hit it in there [and] it’s almost a dropped shot. There was a bit of breeze as well, tricky flag positions, greens quite firm – it was a tough test. It’s important to hit the fairways,” said Westwood, who won here in 2011.

Defending champion Sergio Garcia, with former tennis world No 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero carrying his bag, had a slow start to his title defence, carding four birdies against three bogeys for an opening 71. “Juan Carlos Ferrero did good today! He was calm and confident throughout the day. It was nice. At the start my plan was to hit as many good shots as possible with minimal mistakes. It is quite simple really. With windy conditions the course is playing a lot tougher,” said Garcia, who was joint eighth along with current Order of Merit leader David Lipsky and reigning US Open champion Martin Kaymer of Germany.

“When I played the first nine holes, I didn’t see a 22-under-par,” said Garcia, referring to his winning score last year. “It was a tough day in the office. It was very windy and it was difficult. Some pins were tucked behind the bunkers, so overall it was a very difficult day and anything around par is a good score here,” said the two-time Major winner.

Thailand’s main hopes Thongchai Jaidee, Thaworn Wiratchant, Prayad Marksaeng and Prom Meesawat had to be content with even-par 72s while Kiradech Aphibarnrat hit a 76.