JOHNNIE WALKER CAMBODIAN OPEN RELATED STORIES Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open home page Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open Preview Round 1: Grooms fires a tidy 65 for one shot lead Round 2: Saltus and Groom go three shots clear Round 3: Groom clings to lead by one from Saltus Round 4: Saltus claims maiden victory by three Final Scores & Prize Money About the Phokeethra Country Club Course Chapchai looking for back-to-back wins Boonchu is out to make Cambodia golf history Historic day looms for golf in Cambodia Johnnie Walker to put Cambodia on golfing map Johnnie Walker to sponsor Cambodian Open Phokeethra CC - Cambodia Open venue opened Details of the Phokeetra Country Club Golf Today's guide to golf courses in Cambodia Golf Today's review of the GEL putter (used by Bryan Saltus) ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Ben Leong claims maiden victory PGA: Jeev and Wi tie for ninth Prom targets Thai win in Brunei Shin Ji-yai takes Women's British Open Asian Tour starts 2nd half on a high Norman to play 2009 Johnnie Walker Mission Hills to host AP Summit GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Hanson claims a one stroke win Pettersson wins on his local course Funk wins first senior major title Hull snatches maiden LPGA win Tiger Woods won't swing a club till 2009 Michelle Wie defends herself again

Grooms fires a tidy 65 for one shot lead

Australia’s Adam Groom blasted a steady seven-under-par 65 for a narrow one stroke lead over the charging field in the opening round at the inaugural Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open on Thursday.

Groom, 28, nailed eight birdies against a lone bogey at the Phokeethra Country Club for a one stroke advantage over roommate and compatriot Mitchell Brown, who shot a 66, and American Bryan Saltus, who continued his fine form in the US$300,000 Asian Tour event.

Arjun Singh of India enjoyed a bogey free round firing five birdies for a 67 in tied fourth spot alongside American Anthony Kang. Malaysian rookie S.Sivachandran carded a 68 in joint sixth spot alongside defending champion Chapchai Nirat, Myanmar’s Zaw Moe, Japan’s Tetsuya Koyama and New Zealander Stephen Scahill.

Starting on the backnine, Groom blasted six birdies in his first nine holes and continued his relaxed approach on course with two more birdies against a lone dropped shot for a solid 65.

"This course suits my game. I started with a couple of pars and then holed four birdies in row which was a great start. I carried on the momentum from then on and I’m happy with my opening round result," said Groom, who competed in his maiden Major outing at the Open Championship in July.

"I’ve been enjoying good form since the second half of the year and I’m now playing in my third event in a row. I would like to take it easy this week because I will be playing in the season ending Volvo Masters of Asia and will be heading home to compete at the Australian Open so it’s going to be a bit hectic but it’s been good so far. I’m also happy that my roommate Mitchell is up there because he needs a good finish here," added Groom, in search of his first ever Asian Tour title.

Rookie Brown, who is currently ranked 67th on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit, enjoyed a blemish free round that included an eagle at the second hole as he hopes for a strong result this week to secure his card for next season. Only the top-60 players from the UBS Order of Merit will secure their place for next year.

"This is the perfect start I need for this week. I want to secure my position for next year so I hope to have a repeat run tomorrow if not it’s back to Qualifying School for me," said Brown.

Singh, who turned professional in 1994, found the right touch to his game thanks to the guidance of his coach Claude Harmon. He was three under after nine holes and posted two more birdies on the way home.

"It’s a good day. I kept it in play and I enjoyed a 20 foot birdie putt on the eighth hole, which was great," said Singh.

"It’s been a while since I’ve been in this position but this is thanks to the guidance of Claude Harmon, who is the same coach for Gaurav Ghei. He has been with me since the summer and has helped get my game back together again. My game still needs fine tuning but I’m really happy to be where I am right now," admitted the New-Delhi-based golfer.

The Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open is the penultimate event on the 2007 Asian Tour schedule.

The Prime Minister of The Kingdom of Cambodia Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen (right) was present to officially launch the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open alongside H.E. General Tea Banh, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense and The Minister of Tourism and President of The National Olympic Committee of Cambodia H.E.Dr. Thong Khon.

Leading first round scores (click here for full leaderboard):

65 - Adam Groom (AUS)
66 - Bryan Saltus (USA), Mitchell Brown (AUS)
67 - Anthony Kang (USA), Arjun Singh (IND)
68 - S. Sivachandran (MAS), Chapchai Nirat (THA), Stephen Scahill (NZL), Zaw Moe (MYN), Tetsuya Koyama (JPN)
69 - Mike Cunning (USA), Suk Jong-yul (KOR), Ross Bain (SCO), Adam Le Vesconte (AUS), Young Nam (KOR), Boonchu Ruangkit (THA), Ben St John (ENG), Simon Griffiths (ENG), Mo Joong-kyung (KOR), Prom Meesawat (THA), Simon Dunn (SCO)
Somkiat Srisanga (THA), Harmeet Kahlon (IND)
70 - Panuwat Muenlek (THA), Thaworn Wiratchant (THA), Simon Nash (AUS), Steve Parry (ENG), Jerome Delariarte (PHI), Richard Moir (AUS), Ben Leong (MAS), Ronnachai Jamnong (THA), Michael Hoey (IRL), Shaifubari Muda (MAS)

November 29, 2007