Asian Tour: Sihwan Kim breaks course record to grab early lead at International Series Thailand
- American sets early pace after first round at Black Mountain Golf Club, firing 10-under 62
- Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai also dismantled the course’s defences with a 63
American Sihwan Kim broke the course record at Black Mountain Golf Club on Thursday, shooting a 10-under par 62 to take the lead on day one of the International Series Thailand.
Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai also dismantled the course’s defences with a 63, while his countryman Itthipat Buranatanyarat, newly crowned Asian Tour number one Joohyung Kim and Bio Kim from Korea, Ryou Hisatsune from Japan and Janne Kaske from Finland shot 64s.
Sihwan has been in brilliant form since the Asian Tour restarted at the end of last year and been in the final pairing on Sunday in three events including last week’s Royal’s Cup although victory has so far eluded him.
“Whatever is done is done. I just plan to play my best this week,” said the 33-year-old, who was joint fourth in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship, fourth in the SMBC Singapore Open and tied for second last week.
Kim began Thursday’s round on the 10th and there wasn’t much indication he was about to shoot one of the finest rounds of his career.
“It was an interesting round,” he said. “I didn’t get anything going on the front. After I kind of imploded on 17, when I missed a foot putt by putting it one handed, I just caught fire for some reason, and I kind of got it going.”
He eagled the par-five sixth and 18th, both times reaching the green with a three wood. He holed from 10ft on six and 15ft on the last.