Chilean Costa fires a sizzling 66 to take 

one-shot lead at MahaSamutr Masters

By VIREN VARMA

HUA HIN (Thailand)— His long game in great shape, Antonio Costa fired a sizzling 66 to seize a one-shot lead in the opening round of the MahaSamutr Masters at Banyan Golf Thailand today. 

The 27-year-old Chilean rattled off four birdies and an eagle in his flawless opening round, highlighted by impeccable approach shots, as England’s Stuart Archibald and rising Indian amateur Rayhan Thomas shared second on five-under-par 67s. 

American Berry Henson, who finished in a tie for 34th at last week’s Mauritius Open, and Englishman Craig Hinton were a further shot back on four-under, one clear of a six-man group which included MENA Golf Tour’s Order of Merit leader Zane Scotland and his fellow Englishman Miles Tunnicliff, a two-time winner on the European Tour.

It was Costa who took centre-stage with his personal best score on the MENA Golf Tour he joined earlier this year. 

“I struck the ball consistently well and felt very comfortable with my long game. All my approach shots were close, to within 10 or 12 feet, which was great,” said the Chilean, who earned his playing privileges on the tour through the qualifying school held in Sotogrande in Spain earlier this year.

“My score could have been a lot better had I putted well, but you can’t complain after opening with a 66,” said Costa, who eagled the par-5, eighth after smashing his hybrid iron from 220 yards to within 10 feet.

England’s Archibald settled into a groove after making a bogey-birdie-bogey start, playing his last 14 holes in six under.

“I played really well, especially on the back nine. Chipped in for an eagle on the par-5, 12th which certainly was the highpoint. My front nine was just okay. Made some silly mistakes there which resulted in a couple of dropped shots on par-3s,” said Archibald, a Hampshire native.

“In fact, I have been playing good golf, but not scoring that well. Very happy to be able to string together a good round. I really enjoyed the company of my playing partners which helped,” said the Englishman, who went out with fellow Englishman Miles Tunnicliff and South Africa’s Michael Dreyer.

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
par 72
66 A Costa (Chile)
67 R Thomas (India) (am), S Archibald (Eng)
68 C Hinton (Eng), B Henson (USA)
SELECTED SCORES
69 Z Scotland (Eng) (T6)
70 P Doherty (Sco) (T12)
71 D Kay (Sco) (T14) 
73 B Alexander (Sco) (am) (T23)
74 C Lutton (Sco) (T29)
77 L Harper (Sco) (T50)
Field of 78 players

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