Chapchai Nirat of Thailand sets a course record of 10 under 62; Randhawa languishes at tied 76.
Chapchai Nirat, a burly Thai who goes by the nickname of ‘King Kong’ for his ability to drive long, capitalised on his prowess to give a glimpse of what made him only the third from his country to win on the European Tour two years ago.
Nirat set a course record of 10-under par 62 on the long but easy fairways of the Classic Golf Resort to emerge a three-stroke leader over the second of bunch players in the $300,000 SAIL Open here on Wednesday.
Nirat, who lies at 32nd in the Asian Tour Order of Merit, because of a forgettable 2008, fired 10 birdies in what was his second-best one-round effort since he turned professional 11 years ago as a young 15-year-old. The Bangkok player had similarly returned a memorable 11-under in the opening round of the China TCL Classic in 2007 and went on to win that European Tour event, emulating compatriots Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant.
“The fairways are big but give you the chance to recover. I think a 20-under would be the kind of score needed to win this tournament,” Nirat said after his superb starting effort in the Asian Tour event that saw him hit just 26 putt shots on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course. “I hope to play a relaxed round tomorrow while aiming to attack the five-par greens,” he added.
Three strokes behind Nirat were a bunch of four foreigners at 65 each, including another Thai, Wisut Artjanawat, while Indians SSP Chowrasia and Shamim Khan were among three tied a further stroke behind on a day when Jyoti Randhawa failed to sizzle in his own backyard.
Shamim, who started on the return nine, carded six birdies including one with the help of a fine 15-foot putt on the par-four 15th. “I thought the conditions were easy because there was no wind. There are hardly any roughs and the pin positions today were not too tough either,” said the Delhi golfer. “Players need to concentrate on putting because that can make all the difference on such a course,” he added.
Chowrasia, who held the previous course record of a nine-under, said he expected to excel on a course playing well. “I have won here in the past and that gives me confidence. However, we could be in for a low-scoring week,” he said. Even as several other Indians kept in the hunt, Jyoti Randhawa was languishing at joint 76th along with 19 others after returning an off-colour one-under par 71.
Randhawa, who is currently at second place in the Asian Order of Merit on the back of his recent victory in the Singha Thailand Open, failed to lift his game despite teeing off with Nirat.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}