GS CALTEX MAEKYUNG RELATED STORIES GS Caltex Maekyung Open Preview Round 1: Locals in three way tie for lead Round 2: Korean quartet lead field at halfway Round 3: Battling Lee clings to two shot lead Round 4: Suk wins with 72nd hole birdie Final Scores & Prize Money Lee is people's champion as Suk wins ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Swedes sweep World Cup win Lin & Marksaeng near top 50 HK: Lin wins in 3-way playoff Asian Tour hits landmark 300 in HK Asian Tour releases 2009 schedule Report predicts 30% China golf growth GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Sweden win World Cup Internationals claim Lexus Cup Pampling wins in a playoff Choi wins Skins Game Amateur: EGU allow range finders

Locals in three way tie for lead

Local favourite Lee Sung fired a fabulous five-under-par 67 for the joint first round lead with compatriots Suk Jong-ryul and Lee In-woo at the US$600,000 GS Caltex Maekyung Open on Thursday.

Lee, 26, who is born deaf, enjoyed a blemish free round at Lakeside Country Club with an eagle and three birdies to put himself in prime position for a maiden Asian Tour title. Starting from the 10th hole, he struck birdies on the par five 11th hole, 17th hole and sixth hole before nailing an eagle at his last hole of the day at the par five ninth.

Currently ranked 28th on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit, Lee, who earlier this month lost in a play-off for a spot in the British Open, will have to contend with the likes of Suk and his namesake, who produced some solid golf for the first day honours.

Two-time Korean Open champion Kim Dae-sub, compatriot Lee Seong-hoon, American Ron Won and Scott Barr of Australia share fourth after matching 68s.

Starting on the 10th tee, Suk followed in the path of his compatriot Lee and fired a birdie at the 11th hole but dropped a shot at the 12th. He bounced back with two consecutive birdies at the 13th and 14th holes, followed by birdies on the third and sixth holes before closing with his sixth birdie of the day on the ninth hole.

Another local contender Charlie Wi, presently second on the UBS Order of Merit, was amongst those in tied eighth place on 69 with India’s Amandeep Johl and local veteran Park No-seok. Korean amateurs Eric Chun and Noh Seung-yul impressed with 69s respectively.

Malaysia’s Iain Steel, meanwhile, struck a hole-in-one at the par three 235 yards 15th hole with a three iron and landed himself a BMW 750 iL car.

Steel, in his rookie season on the Asian Tour, carded a 70 which was matched by amongst others, Thailand’s Prom Meesawat , Angelo Que of the Philippines, American Bryan Saltus and New Zealander Richard Lee who is looking for his second title on the Asian Tour after his success at the Thailand Open last year.

Leading first round scores

67 - Suk Jong-ryul (KOR), Lee Sung (KOR), Lee In-woo (KOR)

68 - Ron Won (USA), Scott Barr (AUS), Lee Seong-hoon (KOR), Kim Dae-sub (KOR)

69 - Park No-seok (KOR), Amandeep Johl (IND), Charlie Wi (KOR), Eric Chun [A] (KOR), Noh Seung-yul [A] (KOR), Chung Joon (KOR), Bryan Saltus (USA), Richard Lee (NZL)

70 - Kim Sang-ki (KOR), Ari Savolainen (FIN), Hong Soon-sang (KOR), Angelo Que (PHI), Scott Hend (AUS), Kwon Myung-ho (KOR), Iain Steel (MAS), Prom Meesawat (THA), Scott Strange (AUS), Park Boo-won (KOR), Son Han-duk (KOR), Adam Groom (AUS), Shin Yong-jin (KOR), Choi Ho-sung (KOR), Hur Won-kyung [A] (KOR), Cho Hyun-jun (KOR)

71 - Kim Seung-hyuk (KOR), Bae Sung-chul (KOR), Jarrod Lyle (AUS), Jun Tae-hyun (KOR), Jason Knutzon (USA), Chung Jae-hoon (KOR), Kong Young-joon (KOR), Eddie Lee (NZL), Nam Young-woo (KOR), Rahil Gangjee (IND), Kim Chang-yoon (KOR), Park Jun-won (KOR), Choi Jin-ho (KOR), Richard Moir (AUS), Hwang In-choon (KOR), John Holmes (USA), Danny Chia (MAS), Hwang Jay-kyung [A] (KOR), Chinarat Phadungsil (THA), Choi Yong-chan (KOR)

April 27, 2006