Japanese star Muto leads Asian charge at NZ PGA Championship

Japanese star Toshinori Muto shot an opening four-under-par 68 to lie just two shots off the pace set by Australians Aaron Townsend, Matthew Ballard and Adam Bland in the first round of the NZ$600,000 NZ PGA Championship in Queenstown.

QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand, Feb 28, 2013 (HK Golfer News Wire) - Korean Hong Soon-sang and Michael Tran of Vietnam were the next best Asian performers, both shooting 70 at The Hills to share 30th place in the PGA Tour of Australasia event.

Angelo Que of the Philippines, a three-time Asian Tour winner, and Korean qualifier Kang Dong-woo each carded a 71, tied for 38th, while Jeong Jin of Korea was a further shot back at even-par in a share of 57th place.

Zhang Xinjun, who finished 25th last year, and Henry Han Ren, an Indiana University graduate, were the best of the Chinese quartet after shooting 73 to lie in a share of 76th.

Li Haotong, 17, carded a 74, while Kevin Huang Wenyi was a further shot back and all will be keen to make the cut for the top 68 players, who will each partner an amateur at the weekend.

Muto, who won his fifth Japan Tour title at last year’s Kansai Open, is Japan’s fourth-highest ranked golfer and one of the favourites this week as he makes his competitive debut in New Zealand.

The 34-year-old teed off on 10 and bogeyed 11, but fired five straight birdies from 13. He picked up a further shot at the third before a bogey at seven left him four-under.

Hong, who finished third on the 2011 Korean Tour money list, enjoyed a steady opening day, but was keen to make his way up the leaderboard.

"I need to improve my short game, but I played okay," said the 31-year-old Korean. "I’ve been to New Zealand before as an amateur and have visited Christchurch four or five times, but this is my first time coming to Queenstown to play golf."

Zhang, who birdied hole 11 and bogeyed 12 and 17, admitted he and his compatriots would need to step up their game on Friday if they’re to make the cut.

"My putting wasn’t good and I missed five good birdie chances. I lost my rhythm. I hope I can do better tomorrow and will try hard to make cut," said Zhang, who represented China at the 2011 World Cup with Liang Wenchong.

The diminutive Han also said he would need to take his chances. "My short irons were not good and I didn't take my birdie chances," Han said. "I hope I can play better in the second round."

New Zealander Michael Hendry, who played with Muto, shot a 67 as he began the defence of his title.

"It’s a good score, but I wouldn’t say I’m particularly happy with the way I hit the ball. It was a bit rough," Hendry said. "I managed my game around the golf course rather than flushed it, but I did enough to get a decent score, which is good."

Lydia Ko (15), the world’s top-ranked women’s amateur, and Sir Bob Charles (76), the 1963 Open Championship winner, are among sporting celebrities who will be paired up with the pros after competing in a seeding competition on Friday.

English cricket legend Sir Ian Botham and Wallaby hero George Gregan, rugby union’s most-capped international, are making their tournament debut, while fellow rugby stars Justin Marshall and Nick Farr-Jones are among those to return from last year when the pro-am format was introduced.

The NZ PGA Championship mirrors the successful format used in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on the US PGA Tour and The European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.