Venetian Macau Open |Thitiphun turns on style to lead first round

Thailand’s Thitiphun Chuayprakong takes the lead in the Venetian Macao Open

Thailand’s Thitiphun Chuayprakong eclipsed the stars with a flying seven-under-par 64 to snatch the first round lead at the USD1 million Venetian Macao Open on Thursday. The 23-year-old, who is seeking his first win on the Asian Tour, stormed home with a back-nine score of 29 to cap off a brilliant round, which included eight birdies.
Korean Jeunghun Wang and Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman each shot 65 to trail by one, while defending champion Anirban Lahiri of India and the 2013 champion Scott Hend of Australia were among those bunched on 66.
Thai ace Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who broke into the world’s top 50 for the first time in his career this week, battled to post a 68, while countryman Thongchai Jaidee carded a 71. South African Ernie Els shot a disappointing 74.
The day belonged to Thitiphun, who needed only 21 putts to position himself atop the leaderboard. “Today is a lucky day. I didn’t hit it good with my tee shots but I had a good short game. I could make a lot of birdies. This is a great round for me. I’m happy and feel fantastic with a 29 coming in,” said Thitiphun.
“Last hole, my second shot came back out but I still can make birdie. I have worked a lot on my putting since last year, so it’s working now. The greens are very fast, but I have a good feel [for them].”
It is a case of “beware the injured golfer” as two-time Asian Tour winner Siddikur enjoyed a bogey-free card to sit one back. He endured pain in his lower back due to a pinched nerve, but without the weight of expectation, he rose to the occasion.
“I told myself to take it easy and to protect my back. I have lost about 10 yards in my driving and I’m already a short hitter! But if I can putt like today, it’s okay. I’m happy as, for the first time in a long time, I had a bogey-free round,” said the 30-year-old.
Following his President’s Cup debut where he was disappointed to have failed to deliver a point for the Internationals, Lahiri bounced back in style with a five-birdie round to finish the opening round only two shots shy of the leader. “It’s back to the usual, I guess,” noted the current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader. “I think it was a solid round of golf. I misread a few. Hopefully I can make those six- or eight-footers through the rest of the week.”
Hend, who was last year’s runner-up, is now 37-under-par through his last nine rounds at the challenging Macau course. “The first few times I came here, I just didn’t want to come back as it killed me,” he explained.
“But we seem to have found a way to play the course, where to hit it, what to do, and when to be aggressive. I’m normally the sort of guy who will shoot seven birdies and throws in a double and a couple of bogeys. This means I’ve played some solid golf, which is positive.”

The Macau Daily Times is the tournament’s official media partner.