Malaysia’s Chia takes early lead in Taipei

TAIPEI: Malaysia’s Danny Chia took the early lead during the opening round of Mercuries Taiwan Masters on Thursday after finishing with a five-under-par 67.
Chia, the highest ranked Malaysian on the Official World Golf Rankings, finished one shot ahead of India’s Rashid Khan at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club’s Tamsui course in Taipei.
The 42-year-old credited the day’s fair conditions for carding two eagles and two birdies during the opening round of the four-day tournament.
“I am very pleased with how I played,” he said. “I have played a lot of times on this course and today’s playing conditions has got to be one of the best so far.”
The tournament’s youngest player, 16-year-old Phachara Khongwatmai , ended the day tied for third. The young Thai holds the record of being the youngest winner on the Asian Development Tour.
“My putting was superb today,” said Phachara. “I played in the morning and it was not so windy so it was an advantage.”
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Pan Cheng-tsung, who is playing for the first time on his home turf since turning professional in June, finished the round tied for seventh place along with five other contenders.



Mullen joint-top on pro debut in Scotland

In St. Andrews, United Kingdom, Walker Cup star Jimmy Mullen enjoyed an incredible professional debut on Thursday with an opening round of 64 that gave him a share of the clubhouse lead at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Englishman Mullen turned professional after winning all four of his matches for Great Britain and Ireland in a record victory over the United States at Royal Lytham last month.
The 21-year-old made a blistering start at Kingsbarns, traditionally the easiest of the three course used for the tournament, as he recorded eight birdies, an eagle and two bogeys.
That left him tied with Kristoffer Broberg, also on eight under par, after the Swede carded a 64 on the Old Course at St. Andrews.
Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen, Richard Bland and Anthony Wall finished one stroke behind after all shooting 65 at Kingsbarns.
Mullen’s Walker Cup team-mate Paul Dunne, who shared the lead after 54 holes of the Open at St. Andrews in July, was seven under par with two holes to play at Kingsbarns, having recorded a hole-in-one on the par-three 15th.
1999 British Open winner Paul Lawrie ended the day six shots adrift after a round of 70 at St. Andrews, while European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke carded a 71 at Carnoustie.