Hua Hin, Thailand: Hua Hin native Prom Meesawat showed steely resolve to end an eight-year winless drought by storming ahead with a seven-under-par 65 to grab a share of the first round lead with Sweden\u2019s Rikard Karlberg at the US$1 million King\u2019s Cup Golf Hua Hin on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Newly-engaged Karlberg also found more bliss in his life as he enjoyed a commanding start to the season-ending King\u2019s Cup, which recently inked a five-year agreement with the Asian Tour.<\/p>\n
Family and friends of Chinese Taipei\u2019s Lin Wen-tang could expect a big hongbao (red packet) during Chinese New Year when he posted a 66 to trail the co-leaders by one alongside three-time Asian Tour winner Angelo Que of the Philippines at the Black Mountain Golf Club.<\/p>\n
After coming narrowly close to winning his second Asian Tour title with two play-off defeats in the Philippines and Hong Kong late last year, Prom is upbeat about returning to the winner\u2019s circle for the first time since 2006.<\/p>\n
The Thai also knows he needs nothing less than a win to earn his place with Team Asia at the inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM set to tee off in Malaysia in March.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve already got those two play-off defeats out of my mind and I\u2019ve been telling myself to concentrate on this week and the new season so that I can get my second win,\u201d said Prom.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe EurAsia Cup is a big event and I want to play in it. So there\u2019re many things to play for this week,\u201d added Prom.<\/p>\n
Despite the gusty conditions in the morning, the 29-year-old put his playing experience in Europe to good effect as he marked his card with two eagles, five birdies and two bogeys.<\/p>\n
\u201cActually such conditions are not really new to me as I\u2019ve played in similar conditions before. I had a good experience playing in Europe with the strong winds last year. They really helped me with my club selection which showed in my score today,\u201d said Prom.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose two eagles also helped me get a low score but there are still three more days to go,\u201d added Prom.<\/p>\n
Prom, who is nicknamed the \u2018Big Dolphin\u2019 due his burly physique and because he hails from the coastal town of Hua Hin, does not have to look far for support as his legion of fans including his wife is keenly following his progress this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a good week for me as I get to stay with my dad in Hua Hin, sleep on my own bed and have my family following and supporting me. I\u2019ll try to play well and make them and also the Thai people happy. I\u2019ll keep trying my best,\u201d said Prom.<\/p>\n
Karlberg, who recently got engaged to his long-time girlfriend, found further joy on the picturesque Black Mountain Golf Club, which is also the Swede\u2019s home course.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything\u2019s going so well in my life especially with my engagement to Pernilla and I just want to enjoy my golf now,\u201d said Karlberg.<\/p>\n
Karlberg\u2019s only blemish came at the par-four 15th after he double-bogeyed but seven birdies and one eagle kept the 27-year-old well positioned for his third win on the region\u2019s premier Tour.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was so windy but I stayed in the game even though I had a double-bogey. I did well to finish off the round as I hit some great shots and holed many putts coming in. So I\u2019m very pleased with my result,\u201d said the Swede.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Lin, who is playing at the Black Mountain Golf Club for the first time, believes a relaxed approach will be the key to a bountiful week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t played on this course before but I was telling my wife how nice it would be if I can come over and earn some money. We\u2019ll then have more money to give away as hongbaos especially with Chinese New Year coming up,\u201d quipped Lin.<\/p>\n
Starting on the back-nine 10th, Lin dropped his only shot on the par-five 13th. He recovered well with birdies on holes 15 and 17 to turn in 35.<\/p>\n
Despite having to contend with the swirling winds which were picking up in the afternoon, the six-time Asian Tour winner showed his class by returning home safely with another five birdies in his inward-nine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe winds were not really the problem as we experience similar conditions back home. The challenging part was the fast greens. It\u2019s really important to control your shots well and I\u2019m glad I managed to do just that today,\u201d said the 39-year-old.<\/p>\n
Having described his 2013 season of one of the most consistent ones he ever enjoyed, Que continued to build on his form into the New Year with another assured performance.<\/p>\n
Like Lin, the affable Filipino only blemish was a bogey on the 13th hole. But Que, who is accompanied by his coach this week, would make up for that by marking his card with seven birdies.<\/p>\n
\u201cI putted really well. I holed a lot of putts and I\u2019m hitting the ball really good. The wind died down on the last few holes but it was quite windy early in my round. I was expecting strong wind so I know how to prepare for it,\u201d said Que who is expecting his second child in May this year.<\/p>\n
For the first time ever, the King\u2019s Cup will be broadcast live, over four rounds on the Asian Tour\u2019s global television platform which reaches over 180 countries and 640 million homes, ensuring extensive worldwide exposure for the popular beach resort town of Hua Hin, sponsors, and the Kingdom of Thailand itself.<\/p>\n
Leading scores after round 1 of the King’s Cup Golf Hua Hin being played at the par 72, 7386 Yards Black Mountain GC course (a- denotes amateur): Selected scores Hua Hin, Thailand: Hua Hin native Prom Meesawat showed steely resolve to end an eight-year winless drought by storming ahead with a seven-under-par 65 to grab a share of the first round lead with Sweden\u2019s Rikard Karlberg at the US$1 million King\u2019s Cup Golf Hua Hin on Thursday.<\/p>\n Newly-engaged Karlberg also found more bliss in his life as he enjoyed a commanding start to the season-ending King\u2019s Cup, which recently inked a five-year agreement with the Asian Tour.<\/p>\n Family and friends of Chinese Taipei\u2019s Lin Wen-tang could expect a big hongbao (red packet) during Chinese New Year when he posted a 66 to trail the co-leaders by one alongside three-time Asian Tour winner Angelo Que of the Philippines at the Black Mountain Golf Club.<\/p>\n After coming narrowly close to winning his second Asian Tour title with two play-off defeats in the Philippines and Hong Kong late last year, Prom is upbeat about returning to the winner\u2019s circle for the first time since 2006.<\/p>\n The Thai also knows he needs nothing less than a win to earn his place with Team Asia at the inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM set to tee off in Malaysia in March.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-world-golf-news"],"yoast_head":"\n
<\/strong>
65 – Prom MEESAWAT (THA), Rikard KARLBERG (SWE).
66 – Angelo QUE (PHI), LIN Wen-tang (TPE).
68 – Prayad MARKSAENG (THA), Kieran PRATT (AUS), Chapchai NIRAT (THA).
69 – Thitiphun CHUAYPRAKONG (THA), Anirban LAHIRI (IND), KIM Gi-whan (KOR), Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA), Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA), Adam GROOM (AUS), Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA), MO Joong-kyung (KOR), Ryan MCCARTHY (AUS).
70 – Alex CEJKA (GER), LAM Chih Bing (SIN), LEE Sung (KOR), Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND), CHAN Yih-shin (TPE), Kittiroj CHANTHAROTTHAI (THA), S.S.P CHOWRASIA (IND), Simon YATES (SCO), Johan EDFORS (SWE), Fredrik ANDERSSON HED (SWE), Kodai ICHIHARA (JPN), Marcus BOTH (AUS), David LUTTERUS (AUS), Poom SAKSANSIN (THA).
71 – Rahil GANGJEE (IND), Andrew DODT (AUS), Scott BARR (AUS), HU Mu (CHN), Richard T. LEE (CAN), Antonio LASCUNA (PHI), Carlos PIGEM (ESP), Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA), Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN), Mardan MAMAT (SIN), Kalle SAMOOJA (FIN).<\/p>\n
<\/strong>
72 – Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI), Scott HEND (AUS)
74 – Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"