Thailand's Chawalit Plaphol established a new course record of six-under-par 65 en route to the clubhouse first-round lead in the Bangkok Airways Open. The sweet-swinging Chawalit enjoyed a birdie binge at the par-71 Santiburi Samui Country Club, carding eight birdies and two bogeys to lead by one stroke from Malaysian surprise package S. Murthy.
Murthy birdied his last three holes in the US$200,000 event to surge into second place on 66 while current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, Filipino veteran Frankie Minoza, Malaysian P. Gunasegaran and Taiwan's Lu Wei-lan were a further two strokes back in third place.
A total of 30 players failed to complete the first round due to darkness and were to resume early today.