'Flower power' Duangdecha blossoms in Hong Kong Open
Thai upstages quality field as Westwood four shots behind
Hong Kong: Thailand's Udorn Duangdecha stole the thunder from a quality field to lead the Hong Kong Open with a dazzling eight-under-par first round 62 on Thursday.
Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen was one behind while holder Lin Wen-tang of Taiwan shared third place on 64 with Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, Briton David Dixon and Thai Thongchai Jaidee at the $2.5 million (Dh9.1 million) event co-sanctioned by the European and Asian tours.
Race to Dubai leader Lee Westwood carded a 66, a score matched by fellow Briton Rory McIlroy who is second on Europe's money list.
Asia's first major winner Yang Yong-eun of South Korea and former British Open champion Mark O'Meara also fired four-under-par 66s.
Derksen won a gold bar for a hole-in-one in Hong Kong two years ago and he set the early pace after birdying five of the last six holes, his only blemish a three-putt at the 16th.
However Asian Tour member Duangdecha, dressed in bright ‘flower power' trousers, charged into the lead after reeling off 10 birdies at Fanling.
The 39 year old only missed out on the course record after bogeying his final hole, the par-four ninth.
"They are my lucky pants," the flamboyant Duangdecha told reporters. "I always play in colourful trousers and I have enough in the wardrobe to last me all weekend."
