Chia fires 63 to lead Brunei Open

BY iseekgolf.com | Asian Tour | 2005 Brunei Open | Round One | 23 Jun 2005

Malaysia’s Danny Chia fired a sparkling eight-under-par 63 to put the shade on Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand in the opening round of the inaugural US$300,000 Brunei Open on Thursday.

The 32-year-old Chia, who will make history next month by becoming the first Malaysian to play at the British Open at St Andrews, produced a master-class at the par-71 Empire Hotel and Country Club, shooting six birdies and a glorious eagle to lead by two strokes from current Asian Tour number one Thaworn.

The Thai star was cruising on seven under for the round before dropping his lone bogey on the last hole for a 65, with Australian duo Jason Dawes, a former Taiwan Open winner, and Glenn Joyner, who enjoyed two eagles, a further stroke back.

Twelve players including Chinese Taipei’s veteran Lin Chie-hsiang, China’s Li Chao, Filipino Frankie Minoza, a trio of Indians Amandeep Johl, Ashok Kumar and Gaurav Ghei and Australians Jarrod Lyle and Terry Pilkadaris, were bunched on 67s as the Brunei Open enjoyed a spectacular start highlighted by low scoring.

Chia was the toast of the day. “I was solid all round. When I arrived in Brunei, I didn’t feel comfortable with my swing but I found a new feel in my technique and struck the ball nicely today,” said the Malaysian, the 2002 Taiwan Open champion.

While his thoughts are very much on his maiden Major appearance at the Home of Golf next month, Chia is eyeing another slice of history by becoming the first Brunei Open champion. He ensured a good start with birdies on the third and fourth holes before ramming home a 30-foot birdie putt on the eighth. His other highlight was the eagle on 12th where he struck a three wood from 253 yards to eight feet of the flag.

“Number eight was lucky as I struck the putt too hard but it slammed the back of the cup and dropped in,” said Chia, who was sixth in last month’s Philippine Open. "And then the eagle was really nice and I birdied the next two holes. I’m looking forward to the British Open but I’m looking to do something here this week."

Thaworn, who won in Indonesia this year and has three other top-10s, got out of the blocks like a sprinter, shooting birdies on his opening three holes with crisp iron play. He birdied the 12th and struck a rich vein with a 50-foot birdie on 14 and chipped in for an eagle at the next hole.

“That was a nice run,” said Thaworn. “I only missed one fairway all day which cost me a bogey on the difficult 18th. It turned out to be a good bogey as I had to hole out an eight footer for my five,” said the Thai.

“I’m feeling good and the conditions were perfect for scoring this morning. It was disappointing to bogey the last but 65 is a good first round score.”

The 40-year-old Joyner, who has played in Asia since 1988 but does not have full status on the Asian Tour this season, enjoyed the honour of shooting the first eagle at the Brunei Open on his third hole, the 12th and achieved the feat again at the second hole.

He sensationally chipped in from 30 yards for his first eagle and then rolled in a 20-footer after hitting the green in two with a three wood. “I’ve done the double a couple of times previously but not in a long while,” said Joyner, whose career was blighted by a lengthy wrist problem. “It’s nice to be on the leaderboard after a solid round and hopefully I can maintain this form.”

Scotland’s Ross Bain, Thailand’s Somkiat Srisanga, Chinese Taipei’s Sung Mao-chang and Malaysian Steven Tan were amongst those who finished the day in fifth place on 67.

Suhaimi Ibrahim and Johari Ahmad were the best Brunei amateur players in the field with identical 75s, with the former stumbling with a bogey and double bogey over his last two holes.

Earlier this morning, unheralded Thai Siripong Maitreeyeunyong earned the honour of striking the opening tee shot of the Brunei Open, thanks to a random computer draw. The 26-year-old rookie professional responded with a superb three wood that split the fairway. While he eventually signed for an eight-over-par 79, he was delighted to be a part of the historic event, which officials hope will accelerate the growth of golf in Brunei.

“It was exciting to have the first tee shot of the first Brunei Open. I was a bit nervous as I knew it was a big occasion. But I hit a perfect shot from off the tee and it landed on the fairway,” said the Bangkok-based Siripong.

Source – Asian Tour