Dubai: Dubai based MG Keyser (RAS), representing Jumeirah Golf Estates, shot an opening five under par 67 in the first round of the $1.5 million International Series – Thailand at Black Mountain Golf Club today (Thursday) to lie in tied 24th place.
Fellow Dubai resident Shiv Kapur (Ind) shot a disappointing, five birdie, 71 to lie in tied 99th.
Keyser had nines of 34 and 33, which included eight birdies but dropped shots on holes; 4, 12 and 13.
Shiv commented after his round, "It was just a bad day in the office...I didn’t have anywhere near my ‘A’ game."
“What a good day for scoring with 121 players shooting par or better, and I will have to go low in tomorrow’s second round to get back into the hunt and at least make the weekend. It was a very frustrating day on the greens today,” said Shiv.
American Sihwan Kim broke the course record at today (Thursday) shooting a 10-under-par 62 to take the lead on day one.
Brilliant form
Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai also dismantled the courses’ defenses with a 63 while his countryman Itthipat Buranatanyarat, newly crowned Asian Tour Number One Joohyung Kim and Bio Kim from Korea, Ryou Hisatsune from Japan and Janne Kaske from Finland shot 64’s.
Sihwan has been in brilliant form since the Asian Tour restarted at the end of last year and been in the final pairing on Sunday in three events including last week’s Royal’s Cup although victory has so far eluded him.
The American began today’s round from the 10th tee and there wasn’t much indication he was about to shoot one of the finest rounds of his career.
He said: “It was an interesting round. I didn’t get anything going on the front. After I kind of imploded on 17, when I missed a foot putt by putting it one handed, I just caught fire for some reason, and I kind of got it going.”
He eagled the par-five sixth and 18th, both times reaching the green with a three wood. He holed from 10 feet on six and 15 feet on the last.
His front nine of eight-under-par 28 matched the lowest score over nine holes on the Asian Tour. He made eight birdies and two bogeys.
“It was a really hot day but fortunately I made some really good numbers on those last six holes with six birdies. I haven’t had that for a while, so it was a bonus to me. Hopefully I can do more of that over the next couple of days,” said Bio Kim.
A one-minute silence was observed for former Asian Tour number one and Chairman Kyi Hla Han who passed away recently. The moment of reflection took place at 2.13 pm, as his birthday was February 13.
In honour of the legendary Myanmar golfer, players are wearing green ribbons – which was one of the colours in his official logo.
Tee times for Round 2:
Shiv Kapur (Ind): 7.00 am / Tee 10.
MG Keyser (RSA): 12.20 pm / Tee 1.
TV Broadcast Starting Time Friday 4th March, 2022, (Dubai Sports Channel, UAE Time): 10.00 am.
Leading Scores after Round 1 of the International Series Thailand being played at the Par 72, 7507 Yards Black Mountain GC course (Am - denotes amateur):
62 - Sihwan Kim (USA).
63 - Phachara Khongwatmai (THA).
64 - Itthipat Buranatanyarat (THA), Ryou Hisatsune (JPN), Bio Kim (KOR), Joohyung Kim (KOR), Janne Kaske (FIN).
65 - Prom Meesawat (THA), Scott Vincent (ZIM), Rory Hie (INA), Ben Campbell (NZL), Viraj Madappa (IND), Yuto Katsuragawa (JPN), Sungyeol Kwon (KOR), Doyeob Mun (KOR), Karandeep Kochhar (IND).
66 - Ben Leong (MAS), Denzel Ieremia (NZL), Masanori Kobayashi (JPN), Chanat Sakulpolphaisan (THA), Natipong Srithong (THA), Todd Baek (USA), Todd Sinnott (AUS).
67 - Poom Saksansin (THA), Sebastian Soderberg (SWE), Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND), Christoffer Baumann (SWE), Mathiam Keyser (RSA), Rashid Khan (IND), Aman Raj (IND), Tirawat Kaewsiribandit (THA), Dodge Kemmer (USA), Sirapob Yapala (am, THA), Wade Ormsby (AUS), Honey Baisoya (IND), Ian Snyman (RSA), Siddikur Rahman (BAN).
68 - Angelo Que (PHI), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Ryosuke Kinoshita (JPN), Zach Bauchou (USA), Khalin Joshi (IND), Mardan Mamat (SIN), Ajeetesh Sandhu (IND), Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA), Kwanchai Tannin (THA), John Catlin (USA), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Nicholas Fung (MAS), Taehee Lee (KOR), Steve Lewton (ENG), Chang Wei-lun (TPE), Berry Henson (USA), Josh Younger (AUS), Scott Strange (AUS), Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij (THA).
