Gowa, November 14 - Thailand’s Apichart Papitak, taught to play golf by the great Boonchu Ruangkit, took the first round lead in the inaugural US$100,000 Gowa Classic today.
He carded a three-under-par 69 at Padivalley Golf Club on the ASEAN PGA Tour, while his countryman Choengchai Panpumpo fired a 70.
Singapore’s Choo Tze Huang, Wittawat Sae-Ung from Thailand, and Indonesians George Gandranata and amateur Elki Kow all shot 71.
“I went out in four under but then missed four short birdie putts on the back nine so it is a bit disappointing,” said Apichart.
“This is a really good golf course and great to play but it was very windy at times so that also made scoring hard. I haven’t played well this year so it is nice to make a good start.”
He made an eagle and two birdies on the outward half.
His eagle on the par-five seventh came after he reached the green with his five wood second shot and holed a huge 50 foot putt. His only bogey of the day came on the 11th.
The 24-year-old turned professional in 2010 a year after helping Thailand win the Putra Cup in a team that included Thanyakon Khrongpha.
“When I was 12 years old I first started playing golf at the Royal Army Course where Boonchu (Ruangkit) played and he gave me my first lessons. He spent seven years coaching me,” added Apichart.
Apichart has a long way to go to match the feats of Boonchu, who has triumphed twice in the Thailand Open in 1992 and 2004.
However, the Bangkok native showed today that he is starting to find his feet in the professional game.
Choo made a solid start clearly still boosted by a fine performance in last week’s Barclays Singapore Open that saw him make the cut and earn a handsome cheque for US$19,200.
Said Choo: “It was tough out there with the wind. I made a great up and down to save par on the last and help make a good start to the week. I am feeling focused and working hard at staying patient.”
Fellow rookie Gandranata, one of Indonesia’s rising stars, bounced back after a poor two over par front nine by touring the inward stretch in three under that included four birdies in the last seven holes.
“I hung in there and never gave up. That paid off. It is very important for me to play well in my country,” said Gandranata.
He was paired with Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat, who won last year’s ASEAN PGA Tour Order of Merit title.
Wisut shot a 73, an impressive round considering he arrived late last night and did not get a practice round on what is a brand new golf course.
Lidya Ivana Jaya, Indonesia’s only female professional, carded a commendable 84.
Leading first round scores:
69 - Apichart Papitak (THA)
70 - Choengchai Panpumpo (THA)
71 - Elki Kow (am) (INA), Wittawat Sae-Ung (THA), Choo Tze Huang (SIN), George Gandranata (INA)
72 - Hamzah Rachmadi (INA), Chawinroj Krobteeranon (THA), Pravee Visalkit (THA), Kenneth De Silva (MAS)
73 - Andik Mauluddin (INA), Justin Han (SIN), Annop Tangkamolprasert (THA), Benny Kasiadi (INA), Wisut Artjanawat (THA), Piya Swangarunporn (THA)
74 - Pawin Ingkhapradit (THA), Nguyen Thai Duong (VNM), Pornlapat Wongchindawest (THA), Jordan Irawan (am) (INA), Ian Andrew (INA), Johannes Dermawan (INA), Asep Caprie Supriyatna (INA)
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