JAMES BYRNE HAS OPENING ROUND OF 70 IN KING'S CUP

NEWS RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR
Khon Kaen, Thailand:  

Singapore’s Mardan Mamat found himself back on familiar ground when he fired a brilliant nine-under-par 63 to take the opening round lead at the King’s Cup on Thursday.

Not since his wire-to-wire victory in the Philippines earlier this year has Singapore’s number one golfer secured pole position. But he did so brilliantly this week by marking his card with 10 birdies against one bogey at the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club.
James Byrne from Banchory and Ross Bain, a Middle East-based Scot, both shot two-under 70s
Byrne birdied the third, fourth and 10th. His only bogey came at the long seventh. 

Morning round leader Supakorn Utaipat of Thailand took full advantage of his second ever start on the Asian Tour by posting a 64 to take a share of second place with England’s Chris Rodgers while Australia’s Rick Kulacz signed for a 65 to take equal fourth place alongside Spain’s Javi Colomo and Thailand’s Arnond Vongvanij, Prom Meesawat and Udorn Duangdecha who is the defending champion.

Mardan got his campaign off to a commanding start when he fired four birdies on holes three, five, six and seven to turn in 32.  He moved to five-under after another birdie on the par-four 12^th.

The Singaporean’s only blemish came on the following hole where he bogeyed the par-three 13^th.

However, that setback was only momentary as the 45-year-old veteran stormed home with five birdies on the trot starting from the 14^th.

“It has been some time since I shot nine-under and obviously it’s a very good score that I can be very proud of,” said Mardan.

“I holed many putts and that was basically the key to such a good round today. What made me happier is that I haven’t been putting well for some time and today’s putting was really the best I’ve putted all year,” added the three-time Asian Tour winner.

Having only turned professional this year, Supakorn was delighted with his encouraging start to his title ambitions at the King’s Cup, which is the third last event on the 2012 Asian Tour Schedule.

The burly 22-year-old teed up for his first Asian Tour event at the Queen’s Cup in June but failed to make it into the weekend rounds when he missed the cut by six shots.

Five months later, Supakorn is ready for another shot at glory aided by a new set of clubs in his bag.

“I changed my entire bag, starting with the driver, putter and irons. This is a new set of golf clubs that I’ve got and I’m happy with where it has got me today,” said Supakorn.

“I’ve played on this golf course on several occasions previously and this is my best result so far. Hopefully, I can carry this good form for the next three rounds,” added the Thai.

Rodgers meanwhile showed great resolve in regaining his Tour card which he lost last year.

It was also the first time he had lost his full playing rights on the Asian Tour since his maiden victory in Pakistan in 2008.

“After my win, I got a bit comfortable playing on the Asian Tour and enjoying myself. Last year was a bit of a struggle as I didn’t putt very well and ended up missing my card. You certainly realise you’re missing out a lot and coming back this year with very limited status, it gives you lots of time to practice and reflect,” said Rodgers.

“There’s everything to play for this week and I know I need a big finish. You can’t win a tournament with just one round but each time you start with an eight-under-64, it is a great start and I hope I can carry this on,” added Rodgers.

The King’s Cup is making its return after a year’s absence following the floods in Thailand last year and is already enjoying a welcome revival with its prize fund increasing to US$500,000 this year.

 

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES

Par 72. Yardage: 7,418

63 Mardan MAMAT (SIN).

64 Supakorn UTAIPAT (THA), Chris RODGERS (ENG).

65 Rick KULACZ (AUS), Udorn DUANGDECHA (THA), Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA), Prom MEESAWAT (THA), Javi COLOMO (ESP).

66 Felipe AGUILAR (CHI), LIN Wen-tang (TPE), Pariya JUNHASAVASDIKUL (THA), Wittawat SAE-UNG (THA).

67 Gunn CHAROENKUL (THA), Thongchai JAIDEE (THA), LEE Sung (KOR), Boonchu RUANGKIT (THA), Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA).

68 Jesper KENNEGARD (SWE), Atthaphon PRATHUMMANEE (THA), Elmer SALVADOR (PHI), Tawan PHONGPHUN (am, THA), Thitiphun CHUAYPRAKONG (THA), Tim STEWART (AUS), Lindsay RENOLDS (CAN).

69 Vuttipong PUANGKAEW (THA), Taiki HARA (THA), Nadeem INYAT (PAK), Gerry NORQUIST (USA), Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA), Atiwit JANEWATTANANOND (THA), Apisit NIMUNUAL (THA), Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA), Miguel TABUENA (PHI), Andrew DODT (AUS), Antonio LASCUNA (PHI), MO Joong-kyung (KOR), Panuwat MUENLEK (THA), Sutijet KOORATANAPISAN (THA), Simon GRIFFITHS (ENG), Michael TRAN (VNM), Kwanchai TANNIN (THA), Sukree OTHMAN (MAS), Pol KEMMARAT (THA), Kalle SAMOOJA (FIN), Varut CHOMCHALAM (THA), Pablo HERRERIA (ESP), LAM Chih Bing (SIN), Quincy QUEK (SIN).

 

Selected scores

70 James Byrne (Sco), Ross Bain (Sco).

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