Aussie Carolan sets pace with 66 in King's Cup

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Khon Kaen, Thailand: Australian Tony Carolan played through the pain barrier of an injured elbow to set the opening round pace at the King’s Cup tournament today.
Carolan, who has been struggling with tendinitis in his right elbow this season, posted a flawless six-under-par 66 to take a one-stroke lead over Korea ’s Mo Joong-kyung at the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club.
Thailand’s Prom Meesawat bounced back from a shoulder injury with a polished performance as he shared third place with countrymen Pariya Junhasavasdikul and Kwanchai Tannin on matching 68s at the US$300,000 full field event presented by Singha and Sports Authority of Thailand.
Malaysians Ben Leong and Airil Rizman, Indian duo Anirban Lahiri and Himmat Rai were bunched up in sixth place with Thailand’s Wittawat Sae-Ung, Australian Unho Park, Takafumi Kawane of Japan, Hwang In-choon of Korea and Englishman Chris Rodgers on identical 69s.
Carolan, who started from the 10th tee, turned in 31 but struggled in his homeward nine as the pain in his elbow began to creep in.
“I’ve felt pain all day and was struggling a bit on my back nine. I just tried not to overdo it. I’ve had this injury all year and had a lot of treatment and finally the elbow is now recovered to about 85%. Earlier in the year it was only about 25% healed,” said the 42-year-old, who missed seven out of eight cuts earlier in the year.
Carolan, ranked 48th position on the Order of Merit, hopes to maintain his form as he is aiming to cement a good placing on the money list.
“Winning this week solves all the problems as you don’t have to worry about your rankings on the Order of Merit. There’s still pressure of finishing high up on the Order of Merit even though my Tour card is currently safe. I have to make sure I stay in the top half of the money list,” said the Australian, who shot six birdies.
Mo continued his love affair in Thailand by carding six birdies against one bogey to trail Carolan by one. He had previously won his second Asian Tour title in Thailand in 2008.
“I found this golf course to be very difficult during practice round but I played really well for my result. I’ve been hitting it really solid in the past few weeks but my putting has been on and off. Hopefully I can turn it on in the next few days,” said Mo, who finished in tied 38th place in Hong Kong last week.
“I’m always happy to come back to Thailand . They got great golf courses and the people are nice,” said the Korean, who is ranked 102nd on the Order of Merit.
The big-hitting Prom, who has won once on the Asian Tour, welcomed a return to form after struggling with a shoulder injury in the past two years.
“My injury (on the left shoulder) has been hampering my game but it feels much better now. I’ve fixed my swing and have been going to the gym. I feel that I’m now playing at 100% of my potential,” said Prom who registered six birdies against two bogeys.
Currently ranked 83rd on the Order of Merit, Prom knows he has plenty to play for this week as he is battling to break into the top-60 of the Asian Tour.
“Every week is very important for me now because I’m not in the top-60 of the Order of Merit. I have to play well this week and try not to put too much pressure on myself and hopefully I will be in contention on the final day,” said the Prom, who is nicknamed the ‘Big Dolphin’ due to his burly physique and because he comes from the coastal town of Hua Hin.
Malaysian Leong fired four birdies against one bogey and was delighted to continue his impressive form after placing 21st in Hong Kong last week.
“It was good from tee to green. I putted well and read the greens really well but it only gets tougher from now. It is a long course especially with the strong wind.
“The conditions of the golf course were great and that makes playing a lot easier. I played really well in Hong Kong was quite unlucky with my putting but overall it gave me some confidence coming into this week,” said Leong, winner of the 2008 Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters.
Chan Yih-shin’s ambitions of retaining his King’s Cup crown came to an end after the Chinese Taipei player retired from the opening round due to illness.

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 72
66 Tony Carolan (AUS)

67 Mo Joong-kyung (KOR)

68 Pariya Junhasavasdikul (THA), Prom Meesawat (THA), Kwanchai Tannin (THA)

69 Airil Rizman (MAS), Hwang In-choon (KOR), Unho Park (AUS), Ben Leong (MAS), Takafumi Kawane (JPN), Wittawat Sae-Ung (THA), Himmat Rai (IND), Anirban Lahiri (IND), Chris Rodgers (ENG)

70 Thammanoon Srirot (THA), Thaworn Wiratchant (THA), Apichai Leelaka jo rnjit (THA), Rory Hie (INA), Nadeem Inayat (PAK), Udorn Duangdecha (THA), Jason King (AUS), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Nakul Vichitryuthasastr (THA)