2008 GS Caltex Maekyung Open - Round 1: Kang leads as locals dominate day one

Korea’s Kang Ji-man led the local charge at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship when he blasted a steady five-under-par 67 to top the field on Thursday.

Kang, who turned professional in 1999, fired seven birdies against two bogeys for a narrow one stroke lead over amateur Song Tae-hoon who enjoyed an impressive start with a 68 in lone second spot.

Defending champion Kim Kyung-tae remained solid on his return to the Nam Seoul Country Club when he posted a 69 to lie in a tie for third place alongside compatriot Lee Jin-won, Park Sung-kook and Asian Tour’s latest young gun Noh Seung-yul.

Korea’s Young Nam posted a 70 and was in the mix alongside five other local players in joint seventh spot.

Japan’s Yoshinobu Tsukada broke the Korean dominance at the top of the pack when he recorded a 71 alongside Mitchell Brown of Australia and American Chris Riley as they were among those in joint 13th position.

Starting on the back nine, the Seoul-based Kang was three under after nine holes before firing three more birdies against a lone dropped shot for the early lead in the US$600,000 event.

Kang will be hoping to notch a second triumph since having tasted his breakthrough win at the 2006 Shinhan Donghae Open when he defeated stars Michael Campbell and Choi Kyung-ju.

Amateur Song remained a stroke back while rookie Noh continued his fine form in his maiden season on the Asian Tour firing four birdies against a lone bogey to stay within striking distance of leader Kang.

Noh has already chalked up two runner-up finishes and a top-10 this year and will be eager for a historic outing to become the youngster winner on the Asian Tour before his 17th birthday on May 29th.

After having posted one top-10 this season, Young Nam is enjoying the ride at home after a 70 while Mitchell Brown will be gunning to better his joint seventh place result achieved in 2007.

Malaysia’s Iain Steel, Chinese Taipei’s Lu Wei-chih and Filipino Artemio Murakami were five strokes behind the leader after an even-par performance and were among those in a tie for 22nd spot.