 |
| Getty Images |
Peter Lawrie was the best of the three Irish entries at the Maybank Malaysian Open ending the first round four shots off the leaders, with a round of 68, and dropping just one stroke on the par three sixth hole during the morning.
Padraig Harrington also made a good start on the first day of the Maybank Malaysian Open signing for a three under par 69 to share tenth place at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. The Dubliner finished five strokes ahead of World Number Three, Luke Donald, who could only manage a 74 despite chipping in for birdie at the first.
Gareth Maybin could be facing another costly weekend of no play after dropping five shots in his first four holes, before a birdie on the par four 13th reverse the trend and brought some timely respite as play was suspended due to the stormy weather.
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat continued his excellent form to claim the clubhouse lead before thunderstorms curtailed the opening round of the Maybank Malaysian Open.
The big-hitting 23 year old finished fourth in India last week, and fired eight birdies and a single bogey to start with a seven under par 65 in Kuala Lumpur.
In-form Scott Jamieson was only one back with six to play when play was brought to a premature halt, but Aphibarnrat had given himself a tremendous chance of a first European Tour title with his morning display.
Starting on the back nine, Aphibarnrat turned in 33, had three consecutive birdies from the third, then finished with a fine approach to four feet at the ninth.
That put the Asian Tour regular one ahead of France’s Grégory Bourdy, Dane Anders Hansen and former Ryder Cup Italian Edoardo Molinari in the clubhouse, with Jamieson set to resume his first round on the same mark at 7.45am on Friday morning.
The 30 year old Bourdy, who won the last of his three European Tour titles four years ago, birdied five of his first seven holes to set a blistering early pace – highlights including a tee shot to three feet at the short fourth and 15 footer at the next.
However, last month’s Africa Open runner-up could only find two further gains on the back nine, with a bogey at the 14th checking his progress slightly.
“It’s great to start the tournament like this,” he said. “Six under is a good score on this course.
“I finished second here two years ago, so I like the course a lot. It’s maybe one of the best we play all season and it’s in great shape again this year. The area is great also, and the weather is very good. I’m enjoying this event again and I hope my game stays like this until Sunday.”
Like Bourdy, Hansen has endured a four-year wait for a fourth European Tour title.
However, the 42 year old may feel like it is his week; especially after holing his iron approach from the rough next to the second fairway for eagle.
That was followed by a hat-trick of birdies to finish – the last of them from 12 feet - while Molinari had five gains in six holes from the 13th in his eight-birdie, two-bogey effort.
Hansen said: “It’s always nice to finish with three birdies. I plodded along all day and all of a sudden the putts started dropping at the end.
“I’m very, very pleased. I’ve been struggling a bit all year, but this week I’ve worked very hard on the range even though it has been so hot.
“I hit a lot of good shots today, although I had a couple of loose ones at the start. I hit it in the water on the first which wasn’t good, but I made a good recovery.
“I hit some very solid golf shots yesterday in the pro-am and that gave me some confidence for today. It’s too hot to get frustrated so you just have to stick in there. It’s extreme and very difficult for everyone.”
Like Jamieson, South African former Masters Tournament winner Charl Schwartzel was also going well in the afternoon session; two birdies and an eagle taking him to four under with seven holes remaining.
Both players went to the turn in 32, but with the storm closing in, Jamieson birdied the long tenth.
