KUALA LUMPUR, 18 February 2005 — Defending champion Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand carded an eight-under-par 64 to set the pace in the first round of the storm-hit Malaysian Open yesterday.
Thongchai was three shots clear of five players - Swedes Niclas Fasth and Pelle Edberg, Australians Jarrod Moseley and Terry Pilkadaris and Italy’s Emanuele Canonica — who all carded 67s.
Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, at eight the highest world-ranked player in the field, bogeyed three of his last four holes after the two hour late afternoon stoppage to end with a 71.
Pilkadaris, a winner twice late last year on the Asian Tour, was the only player in the leading six who competed in the afternoon half of the draw, which was disrupted by a storm.
When bad light stopped play a total of 45 players had still to complete their first round.
Thongchai, 35, recorded an eagle and six birdies in a superb start to the co-sanctioned event.
“I am very happy as everything was perfect today,” he said.
“I had good feelings coming into this week. I practiced a lot on my short irons and putting and put in some good work at home.”
A year ago Thongchai recorded his first European Tour victory with a sensational final round display that included a 16th hole ace and a last-hole birdie.
Fasth continued his excellent early season form just four days after clinching the New Zealand Open. The Swede dropped just one shot in his round of 67 that included an eagle at his fourth hole. He started his round from the 10th tee.
Five other players, including Ireland’s Paul McGinley, Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn, England’s Simon Dyson, Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thailand’s Prom Meesawat, were on four-under after rounds of 68.
Bjorn birdied his closing two holes while McGinley, despite some discomfort with his left leg, was pleased with his four-under-par round in his first outing this year on the European Tour.
Sweden’s Joakim Backstrom recorded the first hole-in-one of his career when he aced the 185-yard par three, 12th hole.
Unfortunately there was no prize on offer for the 26-year-old who qualified for the Tour through last November’s Tour School.
Kresge, Bowditch Share Lead
at South Australian Open
In Sydney, Cliff Kresge of the United States and Australian Steven Bowditch shot matching rounds of five-under-par 67 to share the first round lead in the South Australian Open at Royal Adelaide yesterday.
Bowditch, 21, collected seven birdies and two bogeys to continue a fine run of form that has included finishing third in the Australian Open and leading the New Zealand Open.
“You’ve just got to keep the confidence up and keep it flowing when it’s flowing,” he told reporters.
Kresge’s mixed round included six birdies, an eagle and three bogeys.
The 36-year-old lost his US PGA Tour card last season but is trying to regain his place through the secondary tour, which includes the South Australian Open and next week’s New Zealand PGA.
“I think my ball-striking wasn’t as good as I’d like it to be, but the putter was great,” he said.
Greg Chalmers, the left-hander who won the 1998 Australian Open at the Royal Adelaide links, finished the opening day equal third with fellow Australian Craig Jones after signing for a 68.
