Thaworn Wiratchant (AFP)
Defending champion Thaworn Wiratchant stormed to a share of the first round lead with Thai compatriots Prom Meesawat and Udorn Duangdecha in the Singha E-San Open on Wednesday.
Defending champion Thaworn Wiratchant stormed to a share of the first round lead with Thai compatriots Prom Meesawat and Udorn Duangdecha in the Singha E-San Open on Wednesday.
The trio shot blemish-free rounds of 66 for a one-stroke advantage over Kwanchai Tannin in the third leg of the ASEAN PGA Tour.
Compatriots Korbkrit Namuangruk, Poosit Supupramai, Chawinroj Rungsrichai and Supakorn Utaipat are a further shot behind in joint fifth.
"I continue to surprise myself," said 44-year-old Thaworn, whose renowned short game makes up for his relative shortness off the tee.
"This is a long course and the fairways are soft. I was hitting four and five irons into a lot of the par fours. But I struck a lot of good iron shots and putted well."
Thaworn has won 12 times on the Asian circuit and amassed more than $3 million in prize money during a stellar career.
Leading first round scores (Thai unless stated)
66 - Thaworn Wiratchant, Prom Meesawat, Udorn Duangdecha
67 - Kwanchai Tannin
68 - Korbkrit Namuangruk, Poosit Supupramai, Chawinroj Rungsrichai, Supakorn Utaipat
69 - Noppawut Lapanupat, Pornpong Phatlum, Pol Kemarat, Elmer Salvador (PHI), Sattaya Supupramai, Wisut Artjanawat, Chirat Jirasuwan, Chinnapat Tangtrongwattana
© 2011 AFP/sid
