Thai sensation Chapchai Nirat got off to a flying start when he fired a sizzling 11-under-par 61 for the opening round lead at the TCL Classic on Thursday.

With a change in putter, Chapchai, 23, enjoyed a blemish free round as he chalked up an impressive 11 birdies and bettered the previous course record of 62 set by American Edward Loar and China’s Liang Wen-chong last year at the magnificent Yalong Bay Golf Club.

The in-form Thai had also equaled the low 18-hole record on the Asian Tour set by Chinese Taipei's Chung Chun-hsing in 2001 and Chanin Puntawong of Thailand in 2003.

Chapchai, who turned pro at the age of 15, took a three stroke lead over Argentina’s Rafael Echenique who shot a 64 for lone second position in the US$1 million event jointly sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours.

South African Keith Horne blasted a 65 in tied third place together with New Zealander Richard Lee and Chinese Taipei’s Lu Wen-teh who was bogey free for the day.

Australia’s Scott Hend was in joint sixth position after a 66 and was tied alongside compatriot Wade Ormsby, England’s Lee Westwood, South African James Kingston and Spain’s Carl Suneson.

Starting on the back nine, Chapchai blazed the course with birdies on the 10th, 12th and 13th holes before firing two more birdies on the 16th and 18th holes. Thanks to steady putting and solid iron play, Chapchai carded his sixth birdie of the day at the first hole before smashing in four straight birdies on the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh holes. He then solidified his position at the top of the leaderboard with a final birdie at the ninth hole.

“I'm very happy. I was driving it solid, my iron play was good and I was bogey free,” said Chapchai, who is gunning for his maiden title on the Asian Tour.

“I had played on this course three times last year so I'm familiar with it. It looks easy but it's not that easy when you're playing on it. The greens were fast and it was difficult because the rough is tough, so it was good that I managed to hit it straight.

“I also decided to change my putter for this tournament because I was struggling with my putting over the last few weeks. During the round today, I didn't look excited because I was just playing my game and I just kept thinking about the next birdie, just getting on with it. But I was happy inside. I hope to keep my rhythm like how it was today and keep the bogeys down,” admitted the young Thai.

With an eagle at the par five 13th hole, Echenique, who won Argentina’s national Open Championship last year, enjoyed his best start on the co-sanctioned Asian Tour and European Tour event.

“The course is beautiful here but I heard that it was easier last year as there was less rough. But I played really good today. I was driving it perfect and my putting was excellent,” said the Argentinean.

With four birdies on the back nine, Lu was right at home as he fired three more birdies on the last nine holes to stay among the frontrunners.

“I always have a good time here. I played here three times last year so I know my way around. That made it an easy start for me,” said the 44-year-old, who finished in joint fifth position last year.

“I know this is a strong field and you’ll see low scores all the way, so I just want to put myself on the right track heading into the weekend,” admitted Lu.

Frankie Minoza produced the shot of the day by making an albatross on the 544 yards 13th hole when he holed his second shot.

Malaysia’s Danny Chia was in tied 23rd after a 68 alongside Filipino talent Juvic Pagunsan and Singapore’s Mardan Mamat. Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant had a steady round when he struck three birdies for a 69 in tied 37th place with a similar performance by last week’s winner Liang who is competing in front of his home fans. Among those also in joint 37th position were England’s Nick Dougherty and Thailand’s Chinarat Phadungsil.

Leading first round scores

61 - Chapchai Nirat (THA)
64 - Rafael Echenique (ARG)
65 - Richard Lee (NZL), Lu Wen-teh (TPE), Keith Horne (RSA)
66 - Scott Hend (AUS), Lee Westwood (ENG), James Kingston (RSA), Carl Suneson (ESP), Wade Ormsby (AUS)
67 - Gary Rusnak (USA), David Bransdon (AUS), Adam Blyth (AUS), Ashley Hall (AUS), Mads Vibe-Hastrup (DEN), Oliver Fisher (ENG), Simon Nash (AUS), Alexandre Rocha (BRA), Brad Kennedy (AUS), Kane Webber (AUS), Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (FRA), Steve Alker (NZL)
68 - Unho Park (AUS), Simon Griffiths (ENG), Birgir Hafthorsson (ICE), Luis Claverie (ESP), Rafael Cabrera Bello (ESP), Mark Pilkington (WAL), Juvic Pagunsan (PHI), Sam Little (ENG), Mardan Mamat (SIN), Danny Chia (MAS), Barry Lane (ENG), Cesar Monasterio (ARG), Chawalit Plaphol (THA), Carlos Rodiles (ESP)

March 15, 2007

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