Sattaya Takes An Opening Lead

The 32-year-old woke up with a pain on his neck but relied on his well acquaintance with the course to shoot eight birdies against a lone bogey on the ninth hole to steal the limelight in the opening day of the US$750,000 Asian-European Tour co-sanctioned event.

“My neck felt stiff perhaps because I fell off the pillow. Luckily I have a physio traveling with me this week and he really helped me to feel better. But I still need to see a doctor for a check-up,” said Sattaya from Ratchaburi province.

But his familiarity with this course gave him the edge at this mountain and lake course where his first coach Nattawat Aksornchat  is a general manager.

“I have played here quite often. Besides I have several club members and my coach Nattawat come to support me. But I tried to focus on my game to show him that I’m really concentrated,” added Sattaya or Jet, a two-time ATD winner in 2014. He has yet to have an Asian Tour trophy in his cabinet but does not want to exert pressure on his shoulders  this week.

“I used to expect too much and did not expect at all and that was not good either way, So it should be somewhere in the middle. I will just try to relax and keep doing the same thing tomorrow,” Sattaya said.

Following two strokes behind were 25-year-old Francesco Laporta of Italy,  five-time Asian Tour winner Gaganjeet Bhullar of India and American Tom Johnson after each fired a 65.

“I played really good. The driver was nice, the putts were really good. I made some three or four putts over five or six feet. I really enjoyed the day. It was hot but fun,” said the European Tour rookie Laporta.

Several players were tied at joint fifth of a 66. That included three locals Kevin Techakanokboon, a Long Beach State University graduate,  rising star Natipong Srithong and the in form Jazz Janewattananond.

Kevin, 23, who just turned pro last year after coming back from a seven month lay-off due to a back injury, came back from two bogeys to shoot six birdies to pose a promising start for the first time on an Asian Tour.

“After those bogeys, I turned the situation around with a birdie on the fifth hole and things started going my way. The greens and the flag positions are quite tough. My putts really helped me out here,” said the American born who grew up in California where his parents work as card dealers in a casino. He almost said good-bye to the sport for good because of the back injury.

“I thought I would never be able to compete again until one day I asked my dad to meet me at a golf club where I worked. I found out I still hit the driver and decided to try again,” said Kevin who earned a card through a Qualifying School earlier this year.

Natipong, who won his maiden Asian Tour in Manila last year, sank six birdies against a double bogey on the 10^th hole.

“I was happy with my game except for the 10^th hole. The ball rolls pretty fast on the green. So keep hitting the fairways is my priority,” said the 21-year-old from Nakhon Pathum who also shared the tied fifth along with Singaporean Mardan Mamat and Australian Terry Pilkadaris.