Australian Summers shines at Mercuries Masters

BY iseekgolf.com | Asian Tour | 2004 Mercuries Taiwan Masters | Round One | 16 Sep 2004

Australian Anthony Summers produced the day’s best round at the US$390,000 Mercuries Taiwan Masters on Thursday, an opening five-under-par 67 giving him a two-shot lead over defending champion Lin Wen-ko, Thaworn Wiratchant and Uttam Singh Mundy.

Summers, playing in his first year on the Asian Tour, carded six birdies against a lone bogey at Taiwan Golf and Country Club’s Tamsui Course. “It was a nice day,” said the 34-year-old Australian. "I played really good and hit 13 greens and five fringes. So I wasn’t really in trouble all day."

He started superbly by chipping in for birdie on the fourth hole and then nailed an approach to three feet at the next. He was soon on three under par with another easy tap-in birdie on the par five seventh hole before dropping his lone bogey on nine.

“I hit a good putt from four feet on nine but it horse-shoed out,” said Summers, who hails from New South Wales. “The rain in the morning cooled the weather down a bit which helped me as I was struggling in the heat earlier in the week,” added Summers, who birdied the 10th, 15th and 18th holes.

Last year’s winner Lin showed that he wasn’t going to give up his title easily on home soil with a 69. He birdied four in a row from the 10th hole before dropping two bogeys on 14 and 18. He picked up a birdie on 17.

While many expected Lin’s older brother Wen-tang to launch a title challenge this week, it was another younger sibling Wen-hong who kept the family’s name firmly on the leaderboard with a 70 for tied fifth place with compatriot Chen Chung-cheng, Australian Richard Moir, Japan’s Satoshi Tomiyama and South African Chris Williams. Wen-tang stumbled to a 74.

Thailand’s Thaworn, who withdrew from the second round of last week’s Kolon Korean Open due to an arm injury, recovered in time to enjoy a strong start with five birdies as he ended the day two back.

“I drove the ball well but my putter was a bit cold. I missed about five chances for birdies but I’m happy to have a good start. Last week, the rough was tough and I hurt my hand and had to withdraw. But after some physiotherapy back in Bangkok, I feel good now,” said Thaworn, currently 13th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Last week’s Korean Open winner Edward Loar of the United States stumbled to a 78 while Simon Yates of Scotland, who was second behind Loar, carded a 72.

Source – Asian Tour