James Hepworth leads Asian Tour Q
School with a nine-under-par 63

PRESS RELEASE
Rayong, January 6: England's James Hepworth blasted a solid nine-under-par 63 for the opening round lead at the Asian Tour's Qualifying School presented by Sports Authority of Thailand today.
The Englishman conquered the course in the Qualifying School First Stage at the Lam Luk Ka Country Club for a two stroke lead over Australia's Jason Norris.
Compatriot Peter Martin posted a 67 to lie in lone third place while Malaysia's Marcus Low was in a tie for fourth place after a 69 alongside Australian duo of Michael Moore and Stuart Lunn-Walker.
At the Rayong Green Valley Country Club, Australia's Heath Reed shot a 66 for a narrow one stroke advantage over Korea's Cho Min-joon. Japan's Mitsunobu Fukunaga, local golfer Narinrit Tantrakul and Australia's Scott Arnold were in joint third place after firing matching 68s.
At St Andrews 2000, Ireland's Eddie Barr recorded a 68 and took charge at the top of the leaderboard. He was a stroke ahead of Korea's Hwang Hyeon-Cheol who was in second spot.
Korea's Young Hoon-ryu, Sweden's Lars Johansson, Australian duo of Matthew Ballard and Christopher Campbell together with England's Ally Mellor posted matching 70s to lie in a tie for third position.
From each of the first stage venues, the top 20 per cent finishers after four rounds will join an already exempted 91 players in the Final Stage next week.
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES

LAM LU KA (Par 72)
63 James Hepworth (Eng).
65 Jason Norris (Aus).
67 Peter Martin (Aus).
68 Stuart Lunn Walker (Aus), Marcus Low (Malaysia), Michael Moore (Aus).
Selected scores:
69 Matthew King (Eng).
70 Jonathan Evans (Eng), Steve Parry (Eng).
71 Justin Evans (Eng), Craig Smith (Wal).
73 Mitchell Slorach (Sco) (jt 52nd).
78 Ross Dixon (Sco) (jt 98th).
81 Sandy Mitchell (Sco) (jt 110th).

ST ANDREWS (Par 73)
68 Eddie Barr (Ire).
69 Hwang Hyron-Cheol (SKo).
70 Young Hoon-Ryu (SKo), Lars Johansson (Swe) Matthew Ballard (Aus), Christopher Campbell (Aus), Ally Mellor (Eng).
Selected scores:
71 James Sheffield (Eng), Michael Arden (Eng).

GREEN VALLEY (Par 72)
66 Heath Reed (Aus).
67 Cho Min-Joon (SKo), Narinrit Tantrakul (Thai), Scott Arnold (Aus).
Selected scores:
69 John Parry (Eng).
70 Grant Jackson (Eng), Mark Mouland (Wal).
75 Mark Lamb (Sco).