Xiamen: Thailand's Supamas Sangchan put herself in contention for her second China LPGA Tour victory of the year, firing a six-under-par 66 yesterday for a two-stroke lead in the opening round of the Xiamen Orient Masters in Fujian province.
Chinese amateur Liu Wenbo was tied second with Thais Prima Thammaraksa and Budsabakorn Sukapan at the RMB500,000 (approximately 2.5 million baht) event at Orient (Xiamen) Golf Country Club. Thai Parinda Phokan was fifth after a 69.
Supamas, winner of the Hong Kong Ladies Open in June, played flawless golf in sunny but windy conditions through 17 holes, reeling off seven birdies before closing with a bogey five at the 375-yard, 18th hole.
"Today I planned to play my own game because before this week I had no confidence and no feeling while executing my shots. But today my shots were perfect and I putted very well. I got back the feeling today," said the 21-year-old, who hails from Sukhothai.
"It was windy today but I had played in Scotland. The winds are much stronger over there. This wind was fine for me. The golf course is not too long and there are lots of chances to make birdies. It's pretty nice and I love it here."
Beijing native Liu credited her five birdies to her ability to get her ball close to the holes. Though critical of her wedge play, she said her putting and driving were solid, save for a bogey four at the 140-yard, 12th hole.
"The best hole, I think, was hole six [405 yards] where I saved par. I shot to the right near the trees because of the wind," said the 16-year-old.
"The second shot I made a mistake in calculating the distance and shot too far. The ball went over the green to the trees again. From a difficult slope, I chipped the ball very well to half a yard and parred the hole. It was very difficult. I was happier than when I got a birdie."
Prima, the 25-year-old from Bangkok who was making her second visit to the Orient Club, had an adventurous round that included four birdies, two bogeys and an eagle three at the 456-yard, 17th hole.
Thailand's Aunchisa Utama (71) carded an ace at the 168-yard, fourth hole with a 6-iron.
