National Games: Hong Kong’s Jason Hak sits second after faultless opening round
- At six-under par, Hak is one shot off the lead at the end of day one
- Hong Kong teenaged sensation Sophie Han holds a share of fifth place in the women’s event
Hak, who has enjoyed a sensational 2021 season finishing in the top five in six of his seven events so far this term on the China Tour, registered a fine six-under-par opening round, which included six birdies and no blemishes.
It looked likely the 27-year-old would hold onto the overnight lead before a spectacular run from Shanghai’s Wu Ashun, the second-highest ranked player in the field, who holed five birdies from 14 through 18 which saw him sign for a 64, seven-under par start.
Hak, the current world No 395, finished third at his most recent tournament, the Xian Classic, which took place at this same golf course in June. He currently sits fourth on the money list of the China Tour with earnings in excess of €250,000 during the 2020-21 campaign.
Also in the field at Xi’an Qinling International is the former world No 32 Li Haotong, a two-time winner on the European Tour, who is level with Hak at six-under after his openining round.
The 26-year-old, who is representing Guangdong Province at the Games, has endured a torrid slide down the rankings in recent years, and in October it will be a full calendar year since the Hunan man last made the cut at a tournament. He is currently ranked 487 in the world.
In 2017, he finished third at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
The top-ranked player in the field, 24-year-old Yuan Yechun sits tied for fifth after the first round.
In the women’s event, Hong Kong’s teenaged sensation Sophie Han sits in a share of fifth place after the first round.
Hainan’s Feng Simin sits atop the leader board on five-under-par.
Former Women’s PGA Championship winner Feng Shanshan is in the field in Xian, and is tied for 14th at one-over par after the opener.
