3/15/2013

Harrington in Thailand Hunt

One Asia
Padraig Harrington and England’s Chris Wood both put themselves in contention to challenge for the Thailand Open after the opening round at Thana City Golf & Sports Club.

Three-time Major winner Harrington looked like challenging Japan’s Koumei Oda for the lead after racing to seven under par through 14 holes.

The former Ryder Cup star had four straight birdies from the second, an eagle at the long tenth and another gain at the 14th, but double bogeyed the penultimate hole to slip to five under and signed for a 67.

Defending champion Wood matched that effort – the recent Commercialbank Qatar Masters winner carding six birdies before bogeying the testing short 17th.

Both are three adrift of Oda, who fired no fewer than 11 birdies in a 64 that also included a bogey and a double bogey.

Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley shot a two under par 70.

But Thursday was all about Japan's Koumei Oda whi hit 11 birdies for an eight-under-par 64 to hold a one-shot lead in the $1 million Thailand Open.

Oda, a five-time winner on the Japan Tour, parred the first and then went on a six-hole birdie blitz, before bogeying the eighth and making the turn at 31.

He then struck five birdies, offset by a double bogey on the 15th, for one of the best rounds of his career.

Six players shared second place at the OneAsia tournament, co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).

"I have had 10 birdies before, but not 11," said Oda, 34, according to a release from the event organisers.

"The secret is I putted very well – just 26 putts for the round."

South Koreans Hwang Jung-gon and Cho Min-gyu, friends who train together on the Japan Tour, set the pace for the day in strong style.

Hwang, just 19 and already a two-time winner in Japan, birdied the first four holes and got three more on the back for a bogey-free round.

"It was very hot, but I was patient and made no big mistakes. Bogey free is always good," he said.

Cho, 24, had eight birdies and a bogey.

"I managed to hit my tee shots very well and it is important to be on the fairway here if you want to make birdies," he said.



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