Pattaya: Thailand's Raththee Sirithanakunsak mastered windy conditions to sign for a seven-under-par 63, grabbing the opening round lead by one shot at the Royal Cup yesterday.
The 28-year-old Thai, chasing for a breakthrough win on the Asian Tour, returned with a flawless card highlighted by seven birdies to take his place atop the leaderboard at the US$500,000 event held at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club.
In-form Justin Harding of South Africa, who claimed his maiden victory on the region's premier tour in Indonesia two weeks ago, continued his good run of form by carding a 64 to tie in second place with Japan's Naoto Nakanishi.
Raththee, a one-time winner on the Asian Development Tour in 2015, took advantage of his hot putter by navigating his ways around the greens with only 24 putts. Despite finding only nine fairways, the lanky Thai managed to hit 13 greens in regulation for his commendable round of 63.
"I played really well and I putted great today. Made no mistakes which I didn't expect," said Raththee.
"I made two long putts from outside of 15 feet on my last two holes to finish strong. I didn't do well on the par-fives because it was windy in my first nine holes especially.
"I was injured at Queen's Cup and had to retire due to inflammation in my hip and had to take a long break to prepare for this tournament. I am not at a 100 percent yet and I am still on medicine to manage the pain but it doesn't affect my swing that much."
The 32-year-old Harding, in only his second start on the Asian Tour this season, stood tall amidst the windy conditions to post a bogey-free round highlighted by six birdies. Nakanishi, 29, was also flawless in his round of 64.
"I didn't really stress myself out there too much today," said the South African star.
"Conditions were pretty easy and I just stuck to my game plan I figured out yesterday during my round, that I don't have to be so aggressive here in Asia. It's more mapping out the golf course and keeping yourself in play and attacking with the wedges to a mid-iron.
"It was nice solid ballstriking performance today and with a bit of luck around the greens it could have been better, but no complains about a bogey-free round."
Nakanishi hit only eight fairways and 10 greens.The Japanese, however, needed only 22 putts around the greens in his opening round.
"Everything about my game was good today. I haven't had the best season on the Japan circuit so my ranking is not very high and I could not get into the tournament in Japan this week. But I managed to get a spot this week in Thailand and I am playing it well so I know I can get some good results if I continue hitting it like how I did today," said Nakanishi.
The Royal Cup is held in honour of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, who will celebrate his 66th birthday tomorrow.
