Thailandâs Panuwat Muenlek signed for a flawless eight-under-par 64 to grab the opening round lead with local hope Mohammad Wafiyuddin and Koreaâs Youngjea Byun at the PGM Panasonic Malaysia Championship on Wednesday.
Qualifying School graduate Byun, who had arrived one week earlier to practise at the Kelab Rahman Putra, fired one eagle and seven birdies against a bogey to match the opening efforts of Mohammad and three-time Asian Development Tour (ADT) winner Panuwat.
The leading trio hold a one-shot advantage over American Lexus Keoninh, who sits in fourth place on his own following a spectacular birdie-birdie-eagle finish to his round, at the RM250,000 (approximately US$55,000) ADT event.
A host of five players, including American Brett Munson and Malaysiaâs Sukree Othman, signed for matching 67s to stay three shots off the pace in fifth place at the event, which is the second leg of the ADT schedule this season.
Mohammad, who notched his first top-five finish on the ADT at the season-opener last month, soared with an eagle on his first hole 10 and added three birdies to turn in 31.
He dropped a shot on second but recovered swiftly with a birdie on third. He then closed with three straight birdies to set a new personal 18-hole record for himself and mark his best round ever on the ADT since turning professional in 2015.
âI hit the ball good. I got off to a superb start and managed to ride on the momentum from there. I was able to hit it close to the pin today and leaving myself with putts from one club length.
âMy iron-play was solid. I felt very confident out there. I will stick to the same game plan tomorrow,â said the 26-year-old Malaysian, who sank a 20-footer eagle putt on the 10 after finding the green in two.
Keoninh, playing in his second year on the ADT, was thrilled to get off to a solid start to the season.
âI was hoping for a good start and I am glad I got it. I just kept trying to hit good shots out there. I stayed positive and gave myself a lot of chances. This is the best round I have shot on the ADT since I started playing here last year.
âI had a great finish to the round. I hit a hybrid off the tee on 18 and then a three-wood from about 270 yards before holing a 5-footer eagle putt,â said the 25-year-old American, who is chasing for a breakthrough win on the secondary circuit.
The leading Malaysian professional, not otherwise exempt, will receive an invitation to participate in the Panasonic Open Japan, a tournament sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour, from April 20 to 23.
The winner of the PGM Panasonic Malaysia Championship will take home a winnerâs prize purse of about US$9,500 and receive six Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.
Like all other ADT events, the tournament will also offer Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points to the top six players and ties based on a sliding scale.
The ADT, which is celebrating its seventh season this year, will continue to reward the top-five finishers on the Order of Merit at the end of this season with Asian Tour cards for 2018.
For more information on the ADT, please visit www.asiandevelopmenttour.com
