'King Kong' Chapchai leads SAIL

Open with 10-under-par 62

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ASIAN TOUR
New Delhi, March 18: Big-hitting Chapchai Nirat of Thailand made the best of ideal playing conditions to shoot a course-record 10-under-par 62 for the first round lead at the SAIL Open today.
The 25-year-old Chapchai, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, brilliantly sank 10 birdies at the Classic Golf Resort to lead by three strokes from countryman Wisut Artjanawat, Filipino Antonio Lascuna, Singaporean Mardan Mamat and New Zealand’s Mark Purser, who shot matching 65s for a share of second place.
S.S.P. Chowrasia and Shamim Khan led the Indian charge with a pair of 66s to lie a further stroke back alongside Australian Richard Moir in what is the sixth leg of this season’s Asian Tour.
Tournament favourite and former Asian Tour number one Jyoti Randhawa of India, triumphant at the Singha Thailand Open two weeks ago, endured a lukewarm start with a 71 in the US$300,000 event while experienced Thai Thaworn Wiratchant carded a 69.
“I’m very pleased with my effort since this is my second best single round score on the Asian Tour,” said Chapchai.
Needing only 26 putts, the man nicknamed ‘King Kong’ for his long driving ability chipped in for birdie on the 17th hole and nailed a four iron tee shot to one foot of the flag on the 11th. He sank five birdies on either side of the turn after starting the day from the 10th tee.
“Hopefully, I will continue to play well. The key in the second round will be to hit the greens in two on the par five holes,” said Chapchai, whose career low round was a 61 en route to winning the TCL Classic in China two years ago.
Wisut, another young and promising Thai, was also in great form with seven birdies against no bogeys. Having finished in the top-10 three times last year, he is looking for his first win on the Asian Tour.
Keeping the Indian flag flying were Chowrasia, fourth in Thailand two weeks ago, and Khan. Chowrasia, who held the previous course record established in 2004, said: “I made a couple of important birdie putts from 10 feet on the seventh and ninth holes and that got me going. The course is playing really well and we could be in for a very low scoring week. I feel comfortable on this course as I have won here in the past.”
Unheralded Khan has tasted success on the Indian Tour previously but is looking to leave his mark on the Asian Tour. “I couldn't have asked for a better start. I hit it close all day. The course is not very difficult to negotiate since there is no rough or wind but one needs to focus on putting. The winning score could go up to 20 or 22 under,” said Khan.
FIRST-ROUND LEADERS
62 Chapchai Nirat (THA)
65 Antonio Lascuna (PHI), Wisut Artjanawat (THA), Mardan Mamat (SIN), Mark Purser (NZL)
66 Shamim Khan (IND), Richard Moir (AUS), S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND)
67 Rafiq Ali (IND), Rahil Gangjee (IND), Rory Hie (INA), Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND), Thammanoon Srirot (THA), Artemio Murakami (PHI), Mars Pucay (PHI), Jbe Kruger (RSA), Naman Dawar (IND), Christopher Campbell (AUS), Ashok Kumar (IND), Ross Bain (SCO), Wilhelm Schauman (SWE), Kao Bo-song (TPE)

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