Korean Han Min-kyu sizzled around the revamped Hyatt Regency Coolum layout on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast with an amazing nine-under 62 to set the clubhouse lead on the opening morning of the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola.
The 26-year-old, making just his second trip to Australia and first to play professionally, collected 11 birdies as he needed just 22 putts to complete his round, with only back-to-back bogeys at the 18th and then the first preventing him from going even lower.
After the morning flights, Han's 62 left him four strokes clear of Australian Ryan Haller (66), responding well to missing a Japanese Tour card by one shot, and five ahead of Volvo China Open winner Scott Strange, Andrew Dodt and Matthew Griffin, who all shot 67.
Adam Scott, winner of last week’s Australian Open, Greg Chalmers and New Zealander Tim Wilkinson each carded 68.
The temperature reached 29 degrees on the way to an expected top of 31 and the northeast winds were getting up to 30km/h with gusts of up to 37km/h, so life was expected to be tougher for the afternoon groups.
Han exploded out of the blocks with birdies at his first four holes after setting off from the 10th at 6:25am with Australians Michael Moore (73) and Lucas Bates (76). Further birdies at 16 and 17 took him two clear at six-under.
He then found trouble with his only blemishes of the day to drop back into a share of the lead with Griffin, but another run of five birdies in six holes, including four on the trot from the fourth, took him well clear.
Haller recovered from a bogey at the first to post six birdies including four on the way in, while Griffin, the world's third-ranked amateur before turning pro 14 months ago, went out in 31 with four birdies, although his fine start was slightly undone by a final-hole bogey.
The Australian PGA Championship is the final event on the Australasian Tour and OneAsia calendars for 2009, ensuring the respective Order of Merit winners for both circuits will be crowned on Sunday.
The inaugural OneAsia season teed off with April’s Volvo China Open won by Australian Scott Strange. Bae Sang-moon won his second straight title at September’s Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open, Chinese number one Liang Wenchong won October’s Midea China Classic, while former world number three Adam Scott won last week’s Australian Open in Sydney.
A full first-round report will follow close of play.
With thanks to Luke Buttigieg/ Sportal
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