International Series Vietnam: Hong Kong’s Cheung in hunt as China’s Bai sets early pace on Asian Tour
- Matthew Cheung cards 5-under 67 at KN Golf Links to finish first round 3-shots back from leader
- But Taichi Kho struggles to a level-par 72 leaving himself some work to do to avoid missing cut
Hong Kong’s Matthew Cheung shot a five-under 67 to put himself in the hunt, as China’s Bai Zhengkai set the early pace with a flawless 64 at the International Series Vietnam on Thursday.
Bai’s 64 set a new course record at the KN Golf Links in Cam Rahn, putting himself a shot clear of Korean Taehee Lee, India’s Honey Baisoya and Lee Chieh-po from Taiwan, as the Asian Tour returned to the country for the first time in seven years.
The only blemishes on Cheung’s day were bogeys at 16 and nine, his last hole after starting the day on 10.
“I played really well, I hit it really good today,” Cheung said. “I think I missed one fairway, and on this golf course if you can hit the fairway you’re in a position to attack.
“But nine is a tough hole. I hit driver and I hit it good, and I had five-iron in, but that green is diabolical, there is so much slope on that green.”
A run of three birdies at the turn, and a 30-footer for birdie at the par-4 eighth were among the highlights of an opening round that left him among a large group three shots off the lead.
