Hung breaks two shots clear at Yeangder Tournament Players Championship - Asian Tour

Hung breaks two shots clear at Yeangder Tournament Players Championship


Linkou, Chinese Taipei, October 4: Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao broke clear of the chasing pack with an ace and a birdie in his last two holes to snatch the outright first round lead by two shots at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship on Thursday.

Hung’s hole-in-one was the second ace he has recorded since he turned professional in 2012 and it provided the 26-year-old with the bright sparks amid the gloomy weather conditions at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club.

Hung’s opening six-under-par 66 was enough to give him a two-shot cushion over his closest rivals on a rainy day where only 11 players broke par at US$500,000 event.

Malaysia’s Ben Leong also enjoyed a promising start when he returned with a 68 to take second place while four players including China’s Xiao Bowen and Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat were tied for third on 69.

Having only made four cuts in 17 starts on the Asian Tour, Xiao was deeply encouraged by his first round efforts.

The Chinese, who first came into prominence with his breakthrough win on home soil last year, raced ahead with an outward 33. He mixed two birdies and two bogeys for an inward 36 which denied him the outright clubhouse lead in the morning.

Panuphol, who underwent a Lasik eye surgery recently, stayed in the hunt for his third Asian Tour victory and reveled in the rain with four birdies and a bogey for a 68.

Ends.

Did you know?

  • Hung Chien-yao’s first hole-in-one was recorded at the Resorts World Manila Masters in 2015. His second professional ace was carded from 177-yards with an eight-iron today
  • Hung Chien-yao finished tied-10th in his last Yeangder TPC appearance in 2016.
  • His best result this season was a tied-20th finish at the Sarawak Championship in July.
  • Hung has yet to win on the Asian Tour but has one Asian Development Tour (ADT) title which he won on home soil in 2013.
  • Ben Leong’s best result this season was a tied-10th finish at the Panasonic Open Golf Championship in Japan in April. Out of 14 starts on the Asian Tour, he has missed five cuts.
  • As an amateur, Ben dominated the Malaysian amateur circuit and spent several years in the United States on a government scholarship where he was attached to the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida.
  • He qualified for the prestigious US Amateur Championship in 2005 and 2006.
  • Panuphol Pittayarat is playing in his eighth season on the Asian Tour.
  • He broke into the world’s top-200 for the first time in his career after claiming a one-shot victory on his home course at the Thai Country Club.
  • Panuphol turned professional in 2007 at a young age of 14 and was nicknamed ‘Coconut’ by his parents.
  • Bowen Xiao has never competed outside China before winning the Asian Golf Championship last year.
  • He is the third Chinese player, after Lianwei Zhang and Wenchong Liang, to win on the Asian Tour.

Players’ Quotes

Hung Chien-yao (Tpe) First round 66 (-6)

I didn’t realise I actually made a hole-in-one as it was quite dark. But I heard someone shouted that the ball has gone inside the hole. I’m happy. Somehow I felt very comfortable and confident when I stepped up to the tee today. I guess I had some element of luck with me as well. With the weather and golf conditions today, focus was key and I told myself to put away any distractions that will affect my performance. I managed to do that and I’m happy I’m heading

Ben Leong (Mas) First round 68 (-4)

Actually keeping my clubs and myself dry is already a bonus and to be able to break even an 80 under such conditions is really a good feeling. It was definitely tough and it was not easy out there. The winds were swirling. It comes and goes, it was wet. I started with a bogey and it took a lot to stay focused under such conditions. I stayed patient and play one shot at a time. It has been a roller coaster season and I’m just trying to stay consistent with everything I do.

Panuphol Pittayarat (Tha) First round 69 (-3)

It was very tough out there today with the wind blowing and the rain. So I’m obviously very happy with my 69. I hope to keep the momentum going. It’s another day in the office but it’s just tougher today. I just have to play my own game. I just did my Lasik and I’m happy I don’t need any glasses. So there’s no more excuses of playing in the rain. I’m more comfortable playing in the rain now than before.

Xiao Bowen (Chn) First round 69 (-3)

I was very accurate with my tee shots today and that really helped me with my scores today. It was more satisfying especially playing under such conditions. I played under such conditions last week so I’m mentally prepared for what lies ahead this week.

Yeh Yu-chen (Tpe) First round 69 (-3)

My putting was really good today. I made a total of 26 putts and could have gone even lower if not for several close misses. I knew the weather conditions were not going to be favourable and decided to adopt a safe approach today. I was not too aggressive and I had to stay patient throughout the day. I feel my mental strength is becoming stronger and that could be my advantage this week.

John Catlin (Usa) First round 70 (-2)

Today’s one of the better round of golf I’ve play all-year under such serious weather conditions. It was raining, cold and just not fun. I’m glad to be back in the clubhouse and in the red. I was telling myself to take one shot at a time and I just had to keep going. I made a couple of bogeys early in the round but told myself to stay patient and keep grinding. Obviously a place in Malaysia next week is at the back of my mind. But there’s nothing I can do about it and I just have to see whether my results will take me there on Sunday.

Leading scores after round 1 of the Yeangder TPC being played at the par 72, 7108 Yards Linkou GcC course (am – denotes amateur):

66 – HUNG Chien-yao (TPE).

68 – Ben LEONG (MAS).

69 – YEH Yu-chen (TPE), Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA), XIAO Bowen (CHN), Sihwan KIM (USA).

70 – John CATLIN (USA).

71 – Giwhan KIM (KOR), Prom MEESAWAT (THA), Jake HIGGINBOTTOM (AUS), Andrew MARTIN (AUS).

72 – Matt STIEGER (AUS), Nattawat SUVAJANAKORN (THA), Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI), Micah Lauren SHIN (USA), LIN Wen-ko (TPE), Khalin JOSHI (IND), Malcolm KOKOCINSKI (SWE), Himmat RAI (IND), Marcus BOTH (AUS), Sungho LEE (KOR), Miguel TABUENA (PHI), S.S.P. CHAWRASIA (IND), Justin HARDING (RSA), Adilson DA SILVA (BRA), Gareth PADDISON (NZL).

73 – Genki OKADA (JPN), David GLEESON (AUS), Chapchai NIRAT (THA), Chanachok DEJPIRATANAMONGKOL (THA), LIU Yanwei (CHN), Settee PRAKONGVECH (THA), PENG Hung-ching (TPE), Maverick ANTCLIFF (AUS), LU Wei-chih (TPE), Berry HENSON (USA), Jack HARRISON (ENG), Jbe KRUGER (RSA), Steven JEFFRESS (AUS).

74 – HUNG Chun-kang (TPE), CHEN Yi-tong (TPE), Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN), Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA), Thammanoon SRIROJ (THA), HSIEH Tung-hung (TPE), Boonchu RUANGKIT (THA), Heungchol JOO (KOR), HSIEH Tung-shu (TPE), Antonio LASCUNA (PHI), Hyunwoo RYU (KOR), Shiv KAPUR (IND), Minchel CHOI (KOR), Shaun NORRIS (RSA), Casey O’TOOLE (USA), Miguel CARBALLO (ARG).

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