South African Nico Van Rensburg and Felix Casas of the Philippines took the first-round lead Thursday in the $500,000 Asian PGA Davidoff Tour Omega PGA Championship. The pair carded 5-under-par 67s over the Jack Nicklaus-designed World Cup course at Mission Hills Golf Club to lead by a stroke from Indonesia's Kasiadi, India's Amritinder Singh, Scotland's Simon Yates, and Australian Kenny Druce.
"I hit the ball solidly today," the 33-year-old Van Rensburg said. "I have been working on getting my weight through onto my left side better. It's stopped me from pushing shots, and it has really helped."
Casas, who finished joint fourth in the Perrier Hong Kong Open a few weeks ago, last played at Mission Hills in the Johnnie Walker Super Tour two years ago.
"I shot three under in the Super Tour, so it is good to be under par again today," he said. "I like the course and putted really well. It could be a good week."
Han didn't fair as well. leading the Davidoff Tour Order of Merit trophy, Han was disappointed with his round after three-putt bogeys 17 and 18.
"I wasn't even thinking about the Davidoff Tour Order of Merit," said Han, whose first three putt was from 40 feet and the second from 30. "I was just thinking about this tournament. I played really well and was 4 under until the 17th and 18th. I am really annoyed at those three putts."
