2006 Bangkok Airways Open - Round 1: Steel shows his mettle to lead by one

It was a wonderful start for the 35-year-old Steel, who reeled in eighth birdies and missed a five-foot eagle putt on his last hole at the challenging par-71 Santiburi Samui Country Club on this holiday isle in Thailand.

Home hero Prayad Marksaeng carried the local charge with a 67, with title holder Lu Wen-teh of Chinese Taipei and reigning Asian Tour number one Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand lying a further stroke back.

Canadian Rick Gibson carded a 69 while China's upcoming star Li Chao, Singapore's Mardan Mamat and American Andrew Pitts, the inaugural winner of the Bangkok Airways Open in 2004, also enjoyed solid starts in the US$300,000 event with matching 70s.

On a tough scoring day, only eight players broke par. Two-time Asian number one Thongchai Jaidee slumped to a 74 in what is the 16th leg of this season's Asian Tour.

Steel, who is of Scottish-Malaysian parentage, is playing in his maiden season in Asia after spending most of his career overseas which includes one year on the US PGA Tour and victories on the Canadian and US secondary Tours.

He nearly didn't make it to Samui as he came down with a stomach bug last week but Steel lived up to the old adage "Beware the injured golfer" with a controlled display.

"When I got here, I wasn't sure if I was going to be okay as it's a tough course to play on. But today, I felt a bit better and I just tried to stay out of trouble. You know what they say, beware the injured golfer," said Steel, who has two top-10s this season.

A lacklustre start from the 10th when he three putted for bogey was quickly forgotten as Steel got into the groove with some superb iron play over the undulating Santiburi layout. He birdied the 11th, 15th, 18th and first hole from inside 10 feet before dropping a double bogey following an errant drive which ended in the jungle that fringes the course. But with steely resolve, he hit straight back with four consecutive birdies, draining putts from 20 feet on the sixth and eighth holes.

"I guess I was still asleep," said Steel of his opening hole blemish. "But I got into a rhythm and had good distance control with my irons. I played alright except for the double on the fifth when I got into the jungle. But after that, it suddenly clicked at the end and I also missed an eagle putt on my last hole after I hit a nice six iron to five feet," added the Malaysian.

Prayad, a five-time winner in Asia, showed his pedigree once more with a six-birdie performance. His highlight of the day was a monster 30-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole, while he dropped two bogeys on the card as a result of three putts.

"Everything clicked," said the stocky Thai. "I missed only two fairways which helps around here and my only troubles were those two three-putt bogeys (on the 12th and second holes). You've got to get onto the right side of the holes here. The greens here are undulating but I feel comfortable on them."

Thaworn put himself on course for a record ninth Asian Tour victory after a 68 which included six birdies against three bogeys. The Thai star, who chipped in for birdie on the 14th, is bracing for a mental test after taking a little over five hours to complete his round.

"It was a long day. The course is playing difficult and players will get into trouble a lot. It's going to be a real test of patience and you need to be mentally strong. I got a lot of birdies but also dropped shots. You just need to shoot more birdies this week."

The 43-year-old Lu, who ended a seven-year winless run with victory here last October, battled to a 68, knocking in three birdie putts from 10 feet against a lone bogey. Lu stayed out from trouble and hit 16 greens in regulation. "I kept the ball in play. It's a good start and I'm happy with it as I'm within touch of the leader," said the Chinese Taipei veteran.

Compatriot Chang Tse-peng struck the first hole-in-one at this week's Bangkok Airways Open on the par three sixth hole with a sandwedge which took one bounce before finding the cup.

Leading first round scores

66 - Iain Steel (MAS)

67 - Prayad Marksaeng (THA)

68 - Thaworn Wiratchant (THA), Lu Wen-teh (TPE)

69 - Rick Gibson (CAN)

70 - Mardan Mamat (SIN), Li Chao (CHN), Andrew Pitts (USA)

71 - Lee Sung (KOR), Danny Chia (MAS), Unho Park (AUS), Lu Wei-chih (TPE), Gaurav Ghei (IND), Banlue Maneerat (THA), Anthony Brown (AUS), Somkiat Srisanga (THA), Chawalit Plaphol (THA)

72 - Garth Mulroy (RSA), Udorn Duangdecha (THA), Wang Ter-chang (TPE), Simon Griffiths (ENG), John Wither (SCO), Martin Maritz (RSA), Gerald Rosales (PHI), Panuwat Muenlek (THA), Park Jun-won (KOR), Airil Rizman Zahari (MAS), Prom Meesawat (THA), Ted Oh (KOR), Krisada Rangwat (THA)

73 - Muhammed Munir (PAK), Yeh Chang-ting (TPE), Chris Gill (ENG), Ronnachai Jamnong (THA), S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND), Jochen Lupprian (GER), Juvic Pagunsan (PHI), Thammanoon Srirot (THA), Anusorn Songserm (THA), Anujit Hirunrattanakorn [A] (THA), Barry Hume (SCO),

Chaddanai Choksuwanlap (THA), Arjun Singh (IND), James Stewart (HKG)

June 8, 2006