49th KOLON-Hana Bank Korea Open - Round 1: Goosen and Yang share lead

World number six Retief Goosen launched his quest for a first title of the year with a six-under-par 65 in the opening round at the Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open on Thursday.

The South African star shares the lead with local hero Yang Yong-eun, who fired seven birdies at the par-71 Woo Jeong Hills Country Club on the outskirts of the Korean capital.

Goosen's round was highlighted by a sensational chip-in eagle at the par four sixth hole along with four other birdies on a blemish-free card but the South African lamented a cold putter. The in-form Yang, meanwhile, had to overcome a slow start before storming through his back nine in 31 as he thrilled the local galleries.

Thai-based Scotsman Simon Yates and Koreans Lee Jung-hoon, Kwon Myung-ho and Nam Young-woo were a stroke adrift in the US$700,000 Asian Tour event while Filipino Gerald Rosales and big-hitting American Bubba Watson, a regular on the US PGA Tour, were amongst those tied on four-under.

Title holder Choi Gwang-soo started his campaign strongly with a 68 and was matched by Malaysia's Danny Chia, Thailand's Prom Meesawat, Australian Terry Pilkadaris and Korea's Choi Hyun-jyun and Kang Kyung-nam.

Goosen, a two-time Major champion, said: "I'm off to a good start which was important. I played pretty good and wasn't really in trouble the whole day. Six under was pretty much the worst score I could have shot today. Hopefully tomorrow I can make a few more putts and build on this score.

"There was hardly any wind out there and the pins were not as difficult as they could have put it. I think scoring will get a bit tougher later in the week, maybe 15 under or better could win the tournament."

He added that poor putting cost him the sole lead. "I had birdie chances on the first three holes and three putted the par five fifth hole for par. I felt on the front nine I should have shot a six under. I felt nine under was a possibility today, so hopefully I can putt better tomorrow."

Goosen's first birdie of the day was a 20-foot effort on the fourth before he holed a chip from the back of the green on the short par four sixth hole for eagle. Putts from inside six feet on the eighth, 11th and 14th saw him surge up the leaderboard.

The powerfully-built Yang has played primarily on the Japan Tour after a short stint in Asia and has won four times in the Land of the Rising Sun. He was triumphant at the recent Suntory Open but is desperate to win a first Korean Open title.

Yang said: "I'm happy with my round. I've not had a chance to play much in Korea these days as I'm in Japan. Hopefully, I can maintain my form for the rest of the week. I played well throughout the day."

Leading first round scores
65 - Yang Yong-eun (KOR), Retief Goosen (RSA)
66 - Lee Jung-hoon (KOR), Kwon Myung-ho (KOR), Nam Young-woo (KOR), Simon Yates (SCO)
67 - Shin Yong-jin (KOR), Bubba Watson (USA), Kim Hyung-sung (KOR), Gerald Rosales (PHI), Clay Devers (USA), Kang Ji-man (KOR), Kong Young-joon (KOR), Lee Jin-won (KOR)
68 - Danny Chia (MAS), Choi Hyun (KOR), Kang Kyung-nam (KOR), Choi Gwang-soo (KOR), Terry Pilkadaris (AUS), Chung Joon (KOR), Prom Meesawat (THA), Cho Hyun-jun (KOR)
69 - Kim Dae-hyun (KOR), Lee Seong-Doo (KOR), Scott Barr (AUS), Song Jin-oh [A] (KOR), Noh Seung-Yul [A] (KOR), Park Do-kyu (KOR), Kim Do-hoon [A] (KOR), Thaworn Wiratchant (THA), Yasin Ali (ENG), Kim Tae-kyu (KOR), Edward Loar (USA)
70 - Rahil Gangjee (IND), Kim Meen-whee [A] (KOR), Brad Kennedy (AUS), Jason Knutzon (USA), Kim Kyung-Tae [A] (KOR), Marc Leishman (AUS), Iain Steel (MAS), Suk Jong-yul (KOR), Kang Wook-soon (KOR), Kim Do-hoon I [A] (KOR), Mardan Mamat (SIN), Garth Mulroy (RSA), Kim Hyung-tae (KOR), Anthony Kang (USA), Park Boo-won (KOR), Ted Oh (KOR), Park Young-woo (KOR), Ahn Joo-hwan (KOR)

September 21, 2006

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