HONG KONG, 13 January, 2014 (HK Golfer News Wire) - Unho Park, who is seeking his third consecutive Ageas HKPGA Championship title, got off to the best possible start by taking the first round lead after a solid display at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
The Korean-born Australian, who turned 40 last week, fired four birdies in an opening two-under 68 over the New Course and will take a slender one-stroke advantage heading into the second round of the HK$450,000 tournament.
Singapore’s Koh Deng Shan lies in second place following a 69, while Australian Scott Barr and Koh’s compatriot, Lam Zhiqun, share third spot after recording matching rounds of 70.
Wong Woon-man was the pick of the Hong Kong players on what proved to be a cool and blustery day. The burly Wong, 33, made four birdies on his way to a 71 to occupy fifth place on his own.
“I’m quite happy with how it went today, I was pretty solid out there,” said Park, who picked up nearly US$100,000 in earnings on the Asian Tour in 2013. “I’m a bit surprised to be leading – I thought a couple of the other guys might have had a chance to pass me – but it wasn’t particularly easy out there.”
Nobody in the history of the Ageas HKPGA Championship, which has been played since 1976, has ever won three titles in a row and Park admitted he was feeling the strain.
“I’m under quite a bit of stress – to win this week for three in a row would make history, so I’m feeling a bit of pressure,” said Park, whose first-round highlight came at the par-4 16th where he holed a 35-footer for birdie. “But I’m feeling good, so hopefully the putts will continue to drop.”
Singaporean Lam had the most unusual start of anyone in the 69-man field. After going out in one-over 35 after two birdies and a double bogey at the ninth, the 24-year-old sandwiched another double at the 11th with eagles on the 10th and 14th.
“I’ve never had two eagles in a competitive round before, so it was definitely an up-and-down kind of day,” said Lam, who is heading back to Asian Tour Qualifying School later this month after losing his card at the end of 2012. “But I’m happy with how it went. This course can really hurt you if you get on the wrong side of the hole, so to only be two off the lead is a decent start.”
Scores after first round of Ageas HKPGA Championship at HK Golf Club (par-70):
1 Unho Park Australia 68
2 Koh Deng Shan Singapore 69
3=Lam Zhiqun Singapore 70
Scott Barr Australia 70
5 Wong Woon-man Hong Kong 71
6=James Stewart Hong Kong 72
Danny Kan Hong Kong 72
Grant Gibson Hong Kong 72
Chau Pui Hong Kong 72
10=Timothy Tang Hong Kong 73
Tong Chun-po Hong Kong 73
Eric Lee Hong Kong 73
Wang Tzu Ming Chinese Taipei 73
Ducky Tang Hong Kong 73
15 Martin Liu (A) Hong Kong 74
16=Benny Yeung Hong Kong 75
Lin Fu Chin Chinese Taipei 75
Chris Tang Hong Kong 75
Alexander Cheng Hong Kong 75
Stanley Leung Hong Kong 75