Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat and local hotshot Sung Mao-chang blasted matching four-under-par 68s for the joint opening round lead at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters yesterday.
Wisut nailed five birdies against a lone dropped shot with a similar performance by the 30-year-old Sung at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club.
Myanmar’s Zaw Moe fired a 69 and was tied for third with a group of players including Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant and Filipino pair Antonio Lascuna and Juvic Pagunsan.
PHOTO: LIU HSIN-DE, TAIPEI TIMES
In-form South Korean Ted Oh, who finished runner-up last year, shot a 70 and was in the mix in 11th place alongside defending champion Lu Wen-teh of Taiwan and two other Taiwanese players, Chan Chin-tang and Chen Yuan-chi.
Sung was pleased with his opening round performance which he hopes will help rejuvenate his form this season.
MOMENTUM
“My game clicked when I was in Japan recently for the qualifying school and I have carried that momentum here,” said Sung, who turned professional in 2003.
“My performance on the Asian Tour has not been good this year so I hope for a change this week. My short game was steady as I had 29 putts today. I feel really comfortable out there and I aim to improve on my score tomorrow,” he said.
Wisut shared a similar sentiment thanks to solid driving at one of Taiwan’s oldest courses.
“I was driving it really well. I am quite confident with my short game which also helped me shoot a good score today,” said the Bangkok-based golfer.
“I’m happy to be tied on top with Sung. It feels like I’m competing at home when I am here because the Thai players have a special friendship with Taiwan golfers,” Wisut said.
“Lin Wen-tang won the Asian Tour International in Thailand and we were all very happy for him. So I hope a Thai player will win over here this week,” he said.
IRON PLAY
Thai star Thaworn took advantage of his strong iron play at the Tamsui Course for a 69 after four birdies against a lone dropped shot.
“I always enjoy playing on old courses. This course has a traditional layout and it suits my game as it is not too long and requires a lot of thinking,” said Thaworn, who won the Bangkok Airways Open in June for a record 10th Asian Tour title.
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