2006 Crowne Plaza Open - Round 1: Chinarat leads in quest to honour his late coach

Thai prodigy Chinarat Phadungsil fired a superb seven-under-par 65 for a two-shot lead at the Crowne Plaza Open on Thursday, a tournament he desperately wants to win in memory of his late coach.

The 17-year-old, who made history last season by becoming the youngest winner on the Asian Tour while he was an amateur, was near flawless in the opening round at Yalong Bay Golf Club, shooting eight birdies against a lone bogey.

A group of 10 players, including upcoming Chinese youngster Li Chao, India's Amandeep Johl and Chinese Taipei's Tsai Chi-huang, packed the leaderboard in tied second place in the US$200,000 event, which marks the resumption of the Asian Tour season after a two-month summer break.

Chinarat is mourning the death of his coach Bud Kareeput, who passed away last month from a heart attack and he is determined to win the Crowne Plaza Open in his honour. "Bud was like my second dad," said Chinarat. "He taught me golf since I was eight and I am very sad that he is gone.

"I learned a lot from him and the one thing that sticks in my mind was his advice that lazy players will not gain success. I will try to win here this week for him," added the Thai.

Living up to his coach's philosophy, Chinarat, a former world amateur junior champion, only took three days off from golf during the break as he worked on his game in a bid to improve his present 30th ranking on the UBS Order of Merit.

Chinarat's game was spot on from the onset, draining a 10-foot birdie on his opening hole which set him up for an outward 32 where he also birdied the second, fourth and seventh holes. Solid iron play saw him shoot four more birdies on the homeward stretch against a lone bogey on 14.

"I kept hooking the ball but my irons were good. I converted a lot of putts from inside eight feet," he said.

Another one of Asia's bright sparks, the 26-year-old Li Chao charged into frame with a blemish free 67 as he renewed his love-affair with Yalong Bay. He carded five birdies against no bogeys.

It was at Yalong Bay in 2003 that Li announced his arrival on the big stage, shooting an ace in his Tour debut en route to playing in four rounds in the Sanya Open. In the same event at the following year, the talented Chinese posted his first top-10 in Asia and he reaffirmed his liking for the Robert Trent Jones Jr-designed course by sinking a hole-in-one at this year's TCL Classic.

"This is over four rounds, the first day doesn't mean anything," said Li, who has three domestic victories and was the winner of the China Tour Order of Merit last season. "I've got more experienced now and I'm more relaxed on the golf course. I hope to win in Asia, I can't tell you when but I'll try in every event. I think I'm a little better now in knowing how to win a tournament." added Li.

Veteran Johl was full of joy after his 67 which included a chip-in eagle on the par five 16th hole. He also chipped in for birdie on the sixth. "I'm quite happy, especially after a two month break. I was working on the angle of approach in my swing and I wasn't too sure about the change. Then Davin (his wife and caddie) saw it in practice yesterday and said it was perfect and we went with it," said Johl, who has two top-three finishes this season.

"It didn't feel good on the front nine but I struck it better on the back. I've been quite pleased with my front half of the season which kind of takes the pressure of me. Once the card is out of the way, I can play with a free mind. Hopefully I can climb the ladder and win one. I'll be ready when the time comes," added the Indian, who is searching for the elusive first victory in Asia.

Unlike Johl, the 37-year-old Tsai has triumphed with a lone victory in the 2002 Mercuries Taiwan Masters. But a niggling back injury has limited his appearances that he is now a forgotten man these days.

"I had a good feel and hit a lot of irons close to the hole," said Tsai, who sank seven birdies against two dropped shots. "I had to rest my back and I've been teaching golf in Shanghai ever since. It's nice to be back playing an Asian Tour again as the last time was probably two years ago. I'm not thinking about winning, I just want to go out there and enjoy myself."

Title holder Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand had an amazing 10 straight one-putt holes as he strung together five birdies against a bogey for a 68, a score matched by last season's Asian Tour number one Thaworn Wiratchant.

Prayad struggled with his iron play, missing numerous greens on his back nine but he chipped and putted beautifully to stay in touch with the leader. "My iron play was poor but luckily, I managed to save pars and make a couple of birdies coming in. It's a good start," said the Thai.

Australian trio Adam Blyth, Pat Giles and Robin Hodgetts, Chinese Taipei's Lin Wen-tang, Scotland's Ross Bain and Pakistan's Shabbir Iqbal were amongst those sharing second place on 67s.

Leading first round scores

65 - Chinarat Phadungsil (THA)

67 - Lin Wen-tang (TPE), Li Chao (CHN), Tsai Chi-huang (TPE), Robin Hodgetts (AUS), Ron Won (USA), Pat Giles (AUS), Ross Bain (SCO), Amandeep Johl (IND), Adam Blyth (AUS), Shabbir Iqbal (PAK)

68 - Digvijay Singh (IND), Thaworn Wiratchant (THA), Prayad Marksaeng (THA), Chapchai Nirat (THA)

69 - Harmeet Kahlon (IND), Angelo Que (PHI), Kao Bo-song (TPE), Prom Meesawat (THA), Lin Keng-chi (TPE), Wu Wei-huang (CHN)

70 - Seuk Jong-ryul (KOR), Rahil Gangjee (IND), Luke Hickmott (AUS), Lu Wei-chih (TPE), Mike Capone (USA), Garth Mulroy (RSA), S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND), Simon Nash (AUS), Martin Rominger (SUI), Olle Nordberg (SWE)

71 - Wisut Artjanawat (THA), Deng Yong-hong (CHN), Cookie Lao (PHI), Gurbaaz Mann (IND), Alistair Presnell (AUS), Yeh Chang-ting (TPE), Yasin Ali (ENG), Lu Wen-teh (TPE), Gaurav Ghei (IND), Thammanoon Srirot (THA), Lam Chih Bing (SIN)

August 17, 2006

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