NAMCHOK AND COLOMO SHARE OPENING 

LEAD AT YEANGDER TPC

 

ASIAN TOUR NEWS RELEASE

Taipei: Thailand’s Namchok Tantipokhakul got the lead he deserved after firing a seven-under-par 65 to share the opening round honours with Spain’s Javi Colomo at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship today

Colomo also enjoyed an encouraging start to the week after he traded eight birdies against a lone bogey to find himself occupying prime position with Namchok.

Thailand’s Pariya Junhasavasdikul, who set the early pace in the morning, posted a 66 to share third place with Spain’s Carlos Pigem at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club. 

Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena returned with a 67 to grab a share of fifth place with Casey O’Toole of the United States at the US$500,000 event, which is also the final Olympic qualifying event on the Asian Tour.

Namchok was clearly the man to catch when he flew off the blocks with two birdies in his opening three holes on the back-nine 10^th.

He soared further ahead with a pair of eagles on the 18^th and first holes before stretching his advantage further with birdies on holes three and four.

A lone bogey five on seven eventually brought his charge to a halt but he would par the last two holes for an inward 33.

“My driving accuracy was spot on today and I didn’t make many mistakes apart from that bogey on seven. This is a very challenging golf course especially the greens which you have to learn to read them well.

“I managed to do that today and it showed on my card. I’m just going out there to enjoy myself again like what I did today and hopefully I’ll be back smiling again,” said Namchok.

Colomo was also a man on fire as he charged out with an outward 33. The Spaniard then stormed ahead with four birdies in his next five holes after the turn.

He dropped a shot on six before making amends with another birdie on eight.

“All in all, it was a good day. The conditions were good and I didn’t make much mistakes today. The greens are tough to read but I managed to do pretty okay except maybe on the sixth hole where I made my only bogey for the day. 

“Apart from that, everything is good and for tomorrow, I’m just going out there to enjoy my game like what I did today,” said Colomo.

Pariya, whose last victory on the Asian Tour dated back to 2013, mixed six birdies, two bogeys and an eagle to enjoy a brief lead after the morning rounds.

 

 

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES

Par 72. Yardage: 7,108

65 - Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA), Javi COLOMO (ESP).

66 - Pariya JUNHASAVASDIKUL (THA), Carlos PIGEM (ESP).

67 - Casey O'TOOLE (USA), Miguel TABUENA (PHI).

68 - Kevin MCLISTER (USA), HSU Li-peng (TPE), Giwhan KIM (SKOR), HUNG Chien-yao (TPE), Scott BARR (AUS), Michael WRIGHT (AUS), Terry PILKADARIS (AUS), Darren TAN (AUS).

69 - TSAI Chi-huang (TPE), HSIEH Tung-hung (TPE), Wolmer MURILLO (VEN), HSIEH Chin-sheng (TPE), LU Wen-teh (TPE), Masaru TAKAHASHI (JPN), Junseok LEE (AUS), Danny MASRIN (INA), Quincy QUEK (SIN), Jason KNUTZON (USA), Sam BRAZEL (AUS), Lindsay RENOLDS (CAN).

 
SELECTED SCORE
71 Simon Yates (Sco)