Sikhio: Lionel Weber hit six-under 66 to lead the weather-hit first round of the Mena Tour’s Mountain Creek Open in Thailand on Monday.
The Frenchman carded seven birdies and a lone bogey to go two strokes clear of Switzerland’s Dubai-based Michael Harradine, South Africa’s Tyler Hogarty and England’s Jamie Elson.
England’s Luke Joy was six under through 16 but a bogey on 17 and double on 18 left him three under in solo fifth, one ahead of a three-man group including the Czech Republic’s Cyril Suk, Pattaraphol Khanthacha of Thailand and Blake Snyder of the US.
On day when an afternoon thunderstorm forced suspension of play for 70 minutes, 16 players broke par. Just two were left out on the course when play was abandoned.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, who won last week’s MahaSamutr Masters — the opening event in the Mena Tour’s three-stage Thai swing — carded three birdies in his last four holes en route to a 71 that left him sharing ninth in an eight-man group which included India’s top-ranked amateur Rayhan Thomas.
Harradine, who leads the amateur division by three shots, made five birdies and a bogey while Hogarty’s opening round consisted off six birdies and a double bogey as Elson overcame a double bogey to stay in contention.
The Czech Republic’s Cyril Suk provided the highlight of the day, hitting six birdies, including three in a row from the first, but struggled to maintain the momentum coming home, eventually settling for a 70.
Elsewhere, England’s Craig Hinton, the winner of the Mena Tour’s Order of Merit last year returned a 75 while Zane Scotland, a 10-time winner on the Mena Tour, carded a 78.
