Runchanapong Youprayong from Thailand and Australian Jack Thompson took a share of the clubhouse lead on day one of the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open today after astonishingly finishing their rounds with three birdies and an eagle for eight-under-par 64s.
Runchanapong, in just his second year as a professional, played in the morning session and had the outright lead for much of the day thanks to a storming finish with three birdies in a row from 15 before an eagle on the par-five 18th.
It looked like he would remain out in front on his own before Thompson, on a mission to finish before play was called for the day with darkness closing in, signed off in similarly spectacular fashion by making birdies on 15 and 16, before registering an eagle on 16, and a birdie on the last.
Thailand’s Danthai Boonma fired a 65 while Canadian Jared Du Toit shot 66, here at Taifong Golf Club.
Heavy fog first thing in the morning meant the start was delayed by an hour and 20 minutes; the end result being 33 players will have to compete their first rounds tomorrow.
Runchanapong, who hit a six iron to 10 feet on 18 to set up his eagle, said: “I have been struggling with my putter. Ball striking has been okay, so it was good to see a few putts rolling in today.”
He made it through the Asian Tour Qualifying School last year but was unable to keep his card and has been playing mainly on the Asian Development Tour, where he has shown some form recently with three top 10s.
He’s also enjoying playing here this week thanks to the fact that the Tournament Director Krirkchai Boonprasert is his former coach.
“He was actually my first coach. He coached me from six until 14 before he moved into being a referee and I went to college in the US. It’s really great to see him out here,” said Runchanapong.
Both he and Thompson played the back nine in six-under-par 30, and the finish late in the day definitely left Thompson stunned.
“I can’t remember the last time I played like that,” said the Australian.
“To finish strong like that. Finishing birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie, that really helps. It was getting really dark, so I guess I played even better to try and finish.”
He won last year’s Asian Tour Qualifying School and enjoyed a strong first season, but he is currently 87th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and in a battle to retain his playing privileges.
“I am not where I want to be in terms of keeping my card, but this is the kind of round I needed to have a chance,” he added.
Boonma is coming off the back of a fine spell of form with three top 16 finishes and is clearly growing in confidence.
Said the Thai golfer: “Everything good, no complaints today. Started on 10 and made four birdies in a row from 16. I got a lot of confidence playing in the events in Thailand and Indonesia recently.” Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai, the defending champion, is five under with three to play.
Scores after round 1 of the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open being played Taifong Golf Club, par-72, 7,302-yard course (am – denotes amateur):
64 – Runchanapong Youprayong (THA), Jack Thompson (AUS).
65 – Danthai Boonma (THA).
66 – Jared Du Toit (CAN).
67 – Huang Yi-tseng (TWN), Atiruj Winaicharoenchai (THA), Manav Shah (USA), Chonlatit Chuenboonngam (THA), Lu Wei-chih (TWN), Justin Quiban (PHI), Shahriffuddin Ariffin (MAS), Tomoyo Ikemura (JPN).
68 – K.P. Lin (TWN), Galven Green (MAS), Tsai Tsung-yu (TWN), Hung Chien-yao (TWN), Suradit Yongcharoenchai (THA), He Chin-hung (TWN), Hung Chao-hsin (TWN), Yuvraj Sandhu (IND).
69 – Natipong Srithong (THA), Settee Prakongvech (THA), Yeh Chia-yin (TWN), Lu Sun-yi (TWN), Ajeetesh Sandhu (IND), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Chan Shih-chang (TWN).
70 – Wang Sheng-hui (TWN), Ho Yu-cheng (TWN), Phachara Khongwatmai (THA), Justin Warren (AUS), Lai Chia-i (TWN), Panuphol Pittayarat (THA), Lion Park (KOR), Tanapat Pichaikool (THA), Hsieh Chi-hsien (TWN), Chen Yi-tong (TWN).
71 – Minhyeok Yang (KOR), Shen Wei-cheng (TWN), Leo Oyo (JPN), Yeongsu Kim (KOR).
72 – Pawin Ingkhapradit (THA), Sung Mao-chang (TWN), Charng-Tai Sudsom (THA), Chang Wei-lun (TWN), Chen Guxin (CHN), Ahmad Baig (PAK), Wang Wei-hsuan (TWN), Hsieh Tung-hung (TWN), Hsu Chih-kai (TWN), Koh Deng Shan (SGP), Itthipat Buranatanyarat (THA), Kosuke Hamamoto (THA).
73 – Ye Wocheng (CHN), Chanat Sakulpolphaisan (THA), Ervin Chang (MAS), Chang Tse-yu (TWN), Siddikur Rahman (BAN), Chiu Han-ting (TWN), Liu Yu-jui (TWN), Hsu Yu-cheng (TWN), James Leow (SGP), Wang Hsi-an (TWN), Lin Ta-yu (TWN), Su Ching-hung (TWN), Carlos Pigem (ESP).
74 – David Meyers (RSA), Naoki Sekito (JPN), Jonathan Wijono (INA), Tsai Shang-kai (TWN), Tirawat Kaewsiribandit (THA), Shotaro Ban (USA), Shapiyate Mako (TWN), Sean Ramos (PHI), Lin Jiu-you (am, TWN), Leon D’Souza (HKG).
75 – Chen Wei-sheng (TWN), Yeh Yu-chen (TWN), Gabriel Tomas Manotoc (PHI), Ben Jones (ENG), Cho Tsung-lin (TWN), Lin Yung-lung (TWN).
76 – Yeh Fu (TWN).
78 – Hsu Li-peng (TWN), Lin Chang-heng (TWN), Tsai Kai-jen (TWN).
80 – Dodge Kemmer (USA).
