New Delhi, October 25: Thai teenager Suradit Yongcharoenchai broke clear of the tight leaderboard after firing two birdies in his closing three holes for an opening six-under-par 66 at the US$400,000 Panasonic Open India on Thursday.

The 19-year-old Suradit, who is playing at the popular event for the second time, nailed seven birdies against a lone bogey to lead by one shot over Delhi expert Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh, as well as Indian duo Ajeetesh Sandhu and Tapy Ghai at the Delhi Golf Club.

Having enjoyed a tied-fifth place finish in Pakistan two weeks ago, Suradit was delighted to continue his fine form as he takes aim at a breakthrough Asian Tour title at the Panasonic Open, where he finished tied-21st last year.

Siddikur, a two-time Asian Tour winner but not since 2013, rediscovered some of his best form after returning with a bogey-free round highlighted by five birdies.

He holds an impressive track record at the par-72 6935 yards course where he won his second Asian Tour title in 2013, finished inside top-10 in four of his five attempts at the Panasonic Open India and has secured six top-10s in other Asian Tour events.

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, highest-ranked player in 14th place on the Merit rankings, posted a 68 to trail by two while defending champion Shiv Kapur of India posted a 70 to tie in 16th position in the event, which is celebrating its eighth successive edition on the region’s premier Tour.

Reigning Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit champion Pannakorn Uthaipas recorded the second albatross of the season on the par-five first hole after his five-iron second shot found the bottom of the cup from about 220 yards.

The Panasonic Open India is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and is the second leg of the 2018/19 Panasonic Swing, which is an aggregate points race that spans five events – in Thailand, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan.

Did you know?

• Suradit Yongcharoenchai sits in 40th place on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings, thanks to two top-five finishes in India and Pakistan. He came in joint runner-up in his last event in India in August and finished tied-fifth in Pakistan two weeks ago.
• The 19-year-old Thai had ended his 2017 season in 43rd place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit to keep his card for 2018. Enjoyed a top-10 finish in India that year as well.
• Suradit turned professional at a teenage of 16. Made the headlines when he won back-to-back titles on his domestic circuit last year.
• The young Thai is leading in an Asian Tour event for the first time in his career.
• Siddikur Rahman holds an impeccable track record at the Delhi Golf Club. He won his second Asian Tour title in 2013, finished inside top-10 in four of his five attempts at the Panasonic Open India and has secured six top-10s in other Asian Tour events there.
• Siddikur enjoyed his career-best season in 2013 when he came in fourth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. He has not finished outside top-60 on the money list in his last eight consecutive seasons on Tour since 2010.
• The 33-year-old Siddikur wrote a slice of history in 2010 when he became the first player from Bangladesh to win on the Asian Tour at the Brunei Open.
• Placed 97th on the money list, Siddikur needs a strong showing to boost his rankings and hopefully break into top-60 by the end of the season to keep his Asian Tour card for 2019.
• Siddikur missed only three fairways and needed only 26 putts around the greens for his commendable 67.
• Tapy Ghai hails from Gurgaon, India. The 22-year-old is playing in his second year as a professional.
• Despite hitting just four fairways, Ghai found 12 greens in regulation and navigated his way around the greens in just 24 putts.
• Ajeetesh Sandhu enjoyed a superb season in 2017 where he claimed his maiden Asian Tour win at the Yeangder TPC in Chinese Taipei. He followed up with a play-off win on the Japan Challenge Tour the week after.
• His good form continued in the following weeks at the Macao Open and the Pansonic Open India where he finished joint runner-up. Also enjoyed a tied-eighth place finish at the season-ending Indonesian Masters to finish in 21st position on the final 2017 Order of Merit.
• Sandhu sits in a current 34th place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings, thanks to two top-10 finishes in Japan and Korea.
• Reigning Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit champion Pannakorn Uthaipas recorded the second albatross of the season on the par-five first hole. The Thai hit a three-wood off the tee right down the middle of the fairway before his five-iron second shot found the bottom of the cup from about 220 yards. It was the second albatross in his career and first time in a professional tournament.

Players’ quotes:

Suradit Yongcharoenchai (Tha) – First round 66 (-6)

I played really good today. I feel very good with my game. I hit a lot of fairways. My tee shots were very good today and that was the key to play well here. I played my irons very well too and gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities.

I knew I was tied for the lead after the birdie on seventh but I wasn’t thinking too much. I just played my own game and went on to make another birdie on the eighth. I didn’t hit my tee shot well on that hole. It was kind of in the rough and I had to lay up from about 100 yards.

I managed to hit it close to the pin from there and made the birdie to take the outright lead. I think my game is pretty alright at the moment. If I can keep hitting fairways and greens, I should be able to do well this week.

Obviously riding on my good form as well. I finished tied-fifth in Pakistan two weeks ago and was joint runner-up when I last played in India two months ago. I haven’t change much to my routine so I will keep doing what I have been doing.

I made a really good birdie on the par-three seventh hole. I hit it close to within a foot and tapped in for birdie. I played pretty consistently through the round today. This is my second time playing on this course and in this tournament.

I don’t have a driver in the bag this week. I know the fairways are pretty tight here. I told myself to just focus on the tee shots. I feel good and confident coming back to India because I came close to winning in this country two months ago.

Tirawat (Kaewsiribandit) is my regular roommate on Tour and to see him win in Pakistan was a great motivation and inspiration for me. It makes me want to win as well. Hopefully I can ride on my good form and try for a win this week.

Siddikur Rahman (Ban) – First round 67 (-5)

It was an excellent day out there. I hit the ball good and my putting was great as well. I am really happy with my round. I have a lot of great memories on this golf course. I won on this course five years ago and I have played well here on several other occasions.

I always think about all these good memories whenever I come to play here. It always inspires me. I don’t think there will be any changes in my game plan moving forward. I hope to continue playing the same way I did today.

I had a good birdie on the 10th hole. I really didn’t know where the putt will go. I saw the slope and just putted from about 18 feet and the ball just went in. I had another nice birdie on the 17th hole. I hit a seven-iron from 165 yards to about five foot of the pin and made that putt.

I feel really excited now. I missed the last two editions so it’s been awhile since I last played here. To come back here and shoot such a good score, I feel really excited now. I am always happy to come and play here. It’s one of my favourite courses on Tour.

I know I play better when I feel happy on the golf course. I will try not to think so much about other matters and focus on enjoying my game over the next few days. That will be the key. The course seems to be playing easier this time. The fairways are playing softer.

I finished tied-12th in Pakistan two weeks ago and that’s my best result this year. I was a little bit under pressure because I haven’t been playing well since the start of the year and I needed to keep my card for 2019.

I have been giving myself too much pressure by thinking about it and that is why I haven’t been able to play well. I shouldn’t be thinking about that. I know I am a good player and I just need a good week to achieve what I need.

That is what I am telling myself now. I won’t give myself any pressure. I just want to play my game and see how it goes. I am happy with my recent performances so I hope to continue that. I played here as an amateur since 2000 and I won the All Indian Amateur here in 2004.

Ajeetesh Sandhu (Ind) – First round 67 (-5)

The score is pretty good. I played alright, not my best. It’s something that might just happen on this course. I think I played pretty well. That three birdies in a row kind of gave me some momentum heading into the remainder of the round.

I hit two good shots on the 13th and made a 10-footer for birdie there. The 14th hole was the toughest hole that I birdied today. I hit a great chip for eagle on the 18th but it somehow lipped out. But I’ll take it. I’m happy with the birdie on the last.

It was pretty warm out there. There was no wind so it was pretty easy. The greens are a bit slow so you got to be aggressive with your shots. If you miss on the wrong side of the greens, you miss another chance.

It’s always good playing with Jazz (Janewattananond). We have a good friendship. We have played quite a lot together this year, even in Europe. It was fun and comfortable out there. He finished well with a birdie on the last like me too which was good.

I am sure the conditions will be different tomorrow morning. It plays completely differently when the sun comes out. The course plays shorter and it’s definitely easier. I’ll just take it as it comes. I have played this course enough times.

Tapy Ghai (Ind) – First round 67 (-5)

When you score seven birdies it’s always a good round. All the aspects of my game were in good shape today. I had clarity of mind and didn’t have any doubts during my round so that helped.

I’ve drawn a lot of confidence from my first professional win which was achieved on the PGTI earlier this month in Ahmedabad. That win has helped me break some mental barriers. I feel like a different player now.

As a junior I’ve played a lot of golf at the DGC at it was my home course at the time before I moved to Gurgaon. I’m quite familiar with the DGC so that is another advantage I enjoy this week.

I recovered well from the bushes to make my first birdie of the day on the 10th. The momentum just continued thereafter as I hit a terrific tee shot on the 12th that set up a seven-foot birdie putt. Then I also had a 20-feet birdie conversion on the 14th.

Subsequently I made two birdies and two bogeys till the fourth before coming back strong with consecutive birdies on the fifth and sixth. I’m delighted with this effort considering this is only my second Asian Tour event.

Veer Ahlawat (Ind) – First round 68 (-4)

It’s been a good season for me so far as I’ve posted five top-10s on the PGTI in 2018. I’m 11th on the PGTI Order of Merit at the moment and I feel I’m carrying some good form into this week.

My game was pretty solid today as I struck it well and therefore hit 16 regulations. I also holed a couple of 15 feet birdie putts.

I started really well with birdies on the first two holes and four birdies on the first seven holes but a poor tee shot on the 18th was a dampener as it resulted in a double bogey. Importantly, I didn’t let that double bogey affect my rhythm on the front nine where I picked up two more birdies.

The highlight of my round though was the chip-in from the fringe for a par save on the seventh.

My game is at a good point as of now as I’m striking and putting well. But I don’t want to think too ahead and want to take it one round at a time. My focus was good today as I managed to pull myself up even after the double bogey on the 18th.

My goals in the near future include getting my first win on the PGTI and also trying to qualify for the Asian Tour through the Qualifying School.

Scores after round 1 of the Panasonic Open India being played at the par 72, 6935 Yards Delhi GC course (am – denotes amateur):

66 – Suradit Yongcharoenchai (THA).

67 – Tapy Ghai (IND), Siddikur Rahman (BAN), Ajeetesh Sandhu (IND).

68 – Veer Ahlawat (IND), Rashid Khan (IND), Peradol Panyathanasedh (THA), Jazz Janewattananond (THA).

69 – Terry Pilkadaris (AUS), Jack Harrison (ENG), Suttijet Kooratanapisan (THA), K. Prabagaran (LKA), Kapil Kumar (IND), Karandeep Kochhar (IND), Jeev Milkha Singh (IND).

70 – Angad Cheema (IND), Sachin Baisoya (IND), Settee Prakongvech (THA), Shiv Kapur (IND), Akshay Sharma (IND), Maverick Antcliff (AUS), Anura Rohana (LKA), Yutaka Araki (JPN), Matt Stieger (AUS), Shankar Das (IND), Chapchai Nirat (THA), Mardan Mamat (SIN), Lu Wei-chih (TPE), Mitchell Slorach (SIN), Aman Raj (IND), M. Dharma (IND), Jyoti Randhawa (IND).

71 – Chikkarangappa S. (IND), Khalin Joshi (IND), Steven Jeffress (AUS), Trishul Chinnappa (IND), Himmat Rai (IND), Wolmer Murillo (VEN), Jbe Kruger (RSA), Abhijit Chadha (IND), Shamim Khan (IND), Prom Meesawat (THA), Lionel Weber (FRA), Namchok Tantipokhakul (THA), Mukesh Kumar (IND).

72 – Manu Gandas (IND), Naman Dawar (IND), Kshitij Naveed Kaul (IND), Paul Harris (USA), Niall Turner (IRL), Udayan Mane (IND), Ashok Kumar (IND), Sudhir Sharma (IND), Zamal Hossain Mollah (BAN), Digvijay Singh (IND), Chiragh Kumar (IND), Mohammad Sanju (IND), Gaurav Pratap Singh (IND), Om Prakash Chouhan (IND), Abhishek Jha (IND), Shakhawat Sohel (BAN)