UBS HONG KONG OPEN RELATED STORIES UBS Hong Kong Open home page UBS Hong Kong Open Preview Round 1: Choi in charge with storming 62 Round 2: Second 64 puts Karlsson four clear Round 2: Saltus enjoys Fanling finesse Round 3: Karlsson adds a 66 to stay four ahead Round 3: Strange relishes last day challenge Round 4: Jimenez clinches thrilling victory Round 4: Thongchai's superb 65 earns tied 2nd Final Scores & Prize Money About the Hong Kong Golf Club Seven names to watch this week Weir out to continue his winning ways Lara loves it in Hong Kong Pagunsan prepares to go one better 2006 flashback: Lara finally takes maiden title In-form Chopra snaking up the rankings Order of Merit chase hots up at Fanling In-form Chopra to join Fanling field Faldo to play and coach at Hong Kong Open Peter Thomson to be guest of honour at Fanling Appleby, Oberholser and Lara confirmed for HK Ko beats pros to claim Fanling berth Lam aims to go one better in HK Open qualifying Mike Weir joins PGA Tour quartet for HK Open Liang targets historic Hong Kong win 2006 flashback: Lara finally takes maiden title Full details of the Hong Kong Golf Club ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Bae clinches home win Tanihara takes Panasonic title Su Dong's lead cut to two Hole-in-One Jeev shares the lead Korea, Philippines, Italy for World Cup Lu wins record 4th Taiwan Masters Aussie PGA rethinks 'One Asia' GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Fred Couples to enlist some unusual help Paula Creamer seeking another home town win Jay Haas on brink of another senior money title Justin Leonard looking to break Texas Open record Father & Son event sign up with Sky Sports

Choi in charge with storming 62

Korean ace Choi Kyung-ju enjoyed his best start at the UBS Hong Kong Open when he blasted an eight-under-par 62 for a one stroke lead in the opening round on Thursday.

Choi has been enjoying a superb spell on the US PGA Tour with two wins and continued his fine run at the Hong Kong Golf Club by firing nine birdies against a lone dropped shot in the US$2.25 million event.

Garry Houston of Wales was a stroke behind after a 63 while Swedish duo Fredrik Andersson Hed and Robert Karlsson fired matching 64s in joint third position at the tournament co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Former winner Kang Wook-soon of Korea, the two time Asian number one, was tied alongside Scotland’s Barry Hume and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez as the trio fired similar 65s in tied fifth place. Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Chapchai Nirat, Korea’s Lee Sung, American Anthony Kang, Scott Strange of Australia and Sweden’s Daniel Chopra were among those in joint eighth position after posting matching 66s.

Choi, with three wins on the Asian Tour, was three under after 10 holes but thanks to a solid pair of hands on the greens, the 37-year-old star blasted five birdies in a row on the 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th holes which steered him clear of the chasing pack in the opening round.

“I started getting my rhythm on the 10th hole which required an accurate drive. Then, on the back nine, I was very comfortable with my strokes. I parred the 11th and then I had a good birdie on the 12th hole and I felt like I was getting back to rhythm again. The greens in Houston are similar to the ones here, bermuda greens, and it was great teamwork too with my caddie (Rusty Uresti),” said Choi, who is based in Texas.

“It’s the first time I’ve shot a 62 here, so I’m very happy. I expected the greens to be softer so that helped as well. A lot of players had a tough time reading the greens, but I was quite comfortable out there and my putting was solid throughout the round,” added Choi.

Starting on the back nine, Houston, 36, was in the lead with Choi on eight under before dropping a shot on the final ninth hole.

“I putted very well on the front nine there, my back nine. I was disappointed to finish with a bogey but the greens can come up and get you round here, they are very grainy and that one happened to get me but overall I am very pleased,” said Houston.

In joint fifth place was Kang who felt right at home competing on a course which is similar to his home course at Anyang Benest in Seoul.

“The conditions here are really good. A lot depends on your putting and my putting today was spot on. I holed almost anything within 11 yards so overall I am very pleased with my round.

“I enjoy playing on this course. The fairways are small with big trees all around. I like playing on mature courses. It is similar to my home course back in Seoul so I am quite comfortable playing here,” said Kang, who won the tournament back in 1998.

Thongchai, who finished joint third last year, was pleased after a steady round with his new set of irons this week.

“I’ve got a new set of Callaway irons, same ones Phil Mickelson used last week. I got it in Monday and used it for practice and I like it. This new set gives the ball more flight and ball control so it is great, I love it,” said the Thai, with eight wins on the Asian Tour.

England’s Nick Faldo carded a 68 in tied 30th spot alongside China’s Liang Wen-chong who leads the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit race. Defending champion Jose Manuel Lara of Spain was in joint 50th place after a 69 alongside Canadian Mike Weir, Frankie Minoza of the Philippines, Thai youngster Chinarat Phadungsil and Thaworn Wiratchant, S.S.P Chowrasia of India and Singapore’s Mardan Mamat.

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

62 - Choi Kyung-ju (KOR)
63 - Garry Houston (WAL)
64 - Robert Karlsson (SWE), Fredrik Andersson Hed (SWE)
65 - Kang Wook-soon (KOR), Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP), Barry Hume (SCO)
66 - Gary Murphy (IRL), Lee Sung (KOR), Thongchai Jaidee (THA), Daniel Chopra (SWE), Chapchai Nirat (THA), Daniel Vancsik (ARG), Gregory Havret (FRA), Scott Strange (AUS), Mathias Gronberg (SWE), Anthony Kang (USA)
67 - Unho Park (AUS), Shiv Kapur (IND), Marc Warren (SCO), Jason Knutzon (USA), Anders Hansen (DEN), Gary Orr (SCO), Ricardo Gonzalez (ARG), Graeme Mcdowell (NIR), Charlie Wi (KOR), Keith Horne (RSA), Chawalit Plaphol (THA), Marcus Fraser (AUS)

November 15, 2007