Ok’s eagles help him grab share of the lead in Singapore, Carl Yuan left ruing costly bogeys in The Bahamas

Taehoon Ok and Suradit Yongcharoenchai shot matching five-under par 66s to take the early clubhouse lead during a storm-shortened first round at the SMBC Singapore Open on Thursday.

The first round of the final tournament of the Asian Tour’s 2021-22 season was halted early because of poor weather with 52 players still out on the course. Play will resume at 7.30am on Friday.

Ok, who missed the cut at last week’s Singapore International, eagled the two par fives on the front nine at Sentosa Golf Club, while Suradit had a chance to take the outright lead but missed an eagle putt on the par-five 18th from 15ft during his bogey-free round.

A host players finished a shot back from the leaders, while Joohyung Kim – who won last week’s event and leads the Tour’s Order of Merit – came in with a 68 in a group of players that includes Thailand’s teenage sensation Ratchanon Chantananuwat.

“The last tournament didn’t go too well so I was feeling a bit anxious,” Ok said. “But after last week I’ve been practising a lot, so think I’ve improved and think I have figured things out.”

Suradit said he was really happy with his first round, despite the missed opportunity on the last.

“I played good, putting was OK, I made tee shots that were very good today but some second shots on par threes were not so good, but it’s OK,” he said.

Elsewhere, on the Korn Ferry Tour, Carl Yuan was left ruing two costly bogeys on the back nine of his final round, after finishing in a tie for third at The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic.

The Chinese golfer, who started the day one shot off the lead, ended the tournament with a one-under par 71 at Sandals Emerald Bay, four strokes back from winner Akshay Bhatia.

Still, for Yuan, who represented his country at the Tokyo Olympics last summer, that signalled a job well done, and got his 2022 season off to a flying start.

China’s Yuan credits ‘aggressive approach’ as he eyes first Tour win in Bahamas

“My goal this week was top-5 as I haven’t been in competitive rounds for many weeks,” Yuan said.

“I hope to find good momentum from here on for the following tournaments. I also know which parts to fix in my game. The result this week shows I’m on the right track.”

The 24-year-old started strongly with three birdies in his opening five holes to remain in contention, but bogeys on 11 and 13 snuffed out hopes of a maiden Tour victory.

Overnight leader Corey Shum also had a day to forget, his level par dropped him down into third alongside Yuan and Michael Gellerman on 10-under for the tournament.

In contrast, Bhatia, who became the third youngest winner on the Korn Ferry Tour 12 days shy of his 20th birthday, shot a seven-under 65, with Paul Haley II’s closing round of four-under good enough to propel him into second.

Yuan’s compatriots Marty Zecheng Dou and Xinjun Zhang finished in ties for 28th and 51st respectively.

The Tour remains in The Bahamas next week, with the Great Abaco Classic starting on Sunday.