Asian Tour: Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho 2 shots off lead at International Series Thailand; Sophie Han sparkles in Singapore
- Hongkonger an early clubhouse leader at Black Mountain, before Miguel Tabuena and Dodge Kemmer post flawless 64s
- Sophi Han cards first round 68 at Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship to sit one shot off lead
Another week, another new experience in the world of professional golf for Taichi Kho, who carded a six-under 66 in the first round of the International Series Thailand on Thursday.
The Hongkonger was an early clubhouse leader at Black Mountain, before Miguel Tabuena and Dodge Kemmer fired off identical rounds of 64 to leave themselves a shot clear of Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
After setting the pace early, Kho ended the day in a tie for fifth alongside American Turk Pettit, and local trio Danthai Boonma, Ekpharit Wu and Settee Prakongvech.
Ten days after flying to Queenstown as the first alternate for the NZ Open, and what ultimately turned out to be two practice rounds and plenty of time on the putting green at Millbrook Resort, Kho said he did not feel any added pressure from being in the paid ranks.
“I feel pretty comfortable with it,” he said. “At the end of the day it’s me progressing my own game and that doesn’t change whether you’re an amateur or a professional. So, trying to stay true to that and having a lot of fun out here.”
The 22-year-old is no stranger to the Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin – his family owns a home about 30 minutes from the course, and after a poor start left him one-over through six holes, he rattled off seven birdies in the next 12.
“Obviously really pleased with the finish, I finished strong,” Kho said. “Towards the start of the round it was a little shaky, but I felt I was really calm and composed out there and trusted my preparation and game plan.”
Tabuena also had every right to be pleased with himself, and the two-time Asian Tour winner’s bogey-free day hinted at brighter times after a 2022 season when he almost lost his card.
The top 70 on the tour’s money list kept their status and Tabuena finished 70th, exactly US$71.89 ahead of Kemmer in 71st.
But the Filipino has returned with a vengeance this year and finished in the top 15 in his previous two tournaments, the International Series stops in Oman and Qatar.
“I worked really hard during the off season, and I guess it is showing a bit,” he said.
While Kho was shining in Thailand, Hong Kong’s women were putting in some solid displays in Singapore at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship.
Sophie Han led the way with a sparkling four-under, leaving the 15-year-old in a tie for second, one shot off the early leader, South Korea’s Kim Minsol.
Ginnie Ding also came out blazing on day one and sits in a tie for fifth after signing for a three-under 69, while there was a two-over 74 for Siuue Wu and a three-over 75 for Arianna Lau.
Han, who finished in a tie for 29th at last year’s tournament said she had “been preparing for this for probably two or three months” and was aiming to finish around seven or eight-under for the week.
