MERCEDES-BENZ MASTERS SINGAPORE RELATED STORIES Mercedes-Benz Masters Singapore home page Mercedes-Benz Masters Singapore Preview Round 1: Lam finds his A-game to take command Round 2: Steady Mardan moves clear at the top Round 3: Mardan extends his lead to two Round 4: Mardan's maiden Mercedes title by three Final Scores & Prize Money MORE ASIAN GOLF NEWS Old Guard Show Form In Philippines Mike Kerr New Asian Tour CEO Nirat Eyes Title In Philippines 2012 Performance Stats Hiratsuka Hopes To Defend In Myanmar Sponsors Show Support For Philippine Open Champions Head To Myanmar 84 Players Make Final Stage

 Lam finds his A-game to take command

Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing fired a five-under-par 67 to take the first round lead in the US$60,000 Mercedes-Benz Masters Singapore.

Having endured a slow start to the season, his game finally clicked today as he nailed six birdies for a one stroke lead over Filipino Rey Pagunsan and Namchok Tantipokakul from Thailand.

Lam pounded the back nine on the Masters Course at Laguna National Golf and Country Club with birdies on 11, 14, 16 and 18.

“It is nice to post a low round. Of course playing at Laguna National helps a lot as I have played here so much. However the swing felt good and the day has helped my confidence,” said Lam.

The Singaporean enjoyed the finest season of his career last year winning the Asian Masters on the Asian Tour, the Mercedes-Benz Masters Indonesia and the Singapore PGA Championship.

He also became the first player from his country to play all four rounds in the British Open.

“I had a long break at the start of the year so it will take a bit of time to find my swing again. I played quite well in the Singha Thailand Open last week which was encouraging,” said Lam.

Lam led the Mercedes-Benz Masters Singapore by four shots last year going into the last round before being overtaken by Pariya Junhasavasdikul from Thailand. Lam finished outright second.

Pariya started his title defense well with a 71.

The leaderboard features a strong line of players with Singapore’s Mardan Mamat in with 69. Malaysian Danny Chia and rising Indonesian golfer Rory Hie both returned 70s.

Singaporean amateur star Quincy Qwek shot a 73.

The tournament is the season-opening event on the Mercedes-Benz Tour.

Leading first round scores (par 72):

67 – Lam Chih Bing (SIN)
68 – Rey Pagunsan (PHI), Namchok Tantipokakul (THA)
69 – Mardan Mamat (SIN), S. Siva Chandran (MAS), Varut Chomchalum (THA)
70 – Danny Chia (MAS), Jay Bayron (PHI), Rory Hie (INA)
71 – Wisut Artjanawat (THA), Pariya Junhasavasdikul (THA), P. Gunasegaran (MAS)

Selected:

73 – Quincy Qwek (a) (SIN)

March 11, 2009