Henan, China, 17-05-2018
Honey Baisoya off to a brilliant start at Asia – Pacific Classic, shoots opening round 67 to be tied second
Honey Baisoya of India made a brilliant start at the Asia – Pacific Classic thanks to an opening round of five-under-67.
Baisoya was among of a group of 11 players with matching 67s who shared second place on day one of the US$300,000 event co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the China Golf Association (CGA).
Andrew Martin of Australia held a one-stroke lead at six-under-66 at the St Andrews Golf Club in Henan, China.
Honey Baisoya, who won back-to-back domestic titles recently, is continuing his excellent form at the Asia-Pacific Classic. He had a near flawless round, carding six birdies against a lone bogey. Baisoya had an outstanding back nine, highlighted by the four consecutive birdies he made from holes 12 to 15.
Baisoya had finished tied-sixth in Bangladesh last week, which was his second-highest finish on the Asian Tour. His career-best was fifth at the 2016 Panasonic Open India.
Honey said, “I’m feeling great about the tournament. I was quite frustrated in the beginning, as I was one-over-par after three holes. I missed a short putt on the second hole. Then, I hit my tee shot into the hazard at the third hole and made a good bogey. At that point, I gave myself a target of five-under-par, so I’m happy to have achieved that.
“It was a good bogey because I managed to find my ball in the left hazard. I chipped it out but missed the green from there, about 125 yards. I got the ball to around five feet. The putt caught the hole and it just went in.
“Then at the fourth hole, I made a par when I could have easily bogeyed it. After the birdie on the fifth hole, everything came into place. I’m feeling great going into round two as I have a good score. If I play well again tomorrow, then I can surely get into contention.”
Among the other Indians in the field, Chikkarangappa occupied tied 57th at even-par-72, Viraj Madappa shot a four-over-76 to be tied 123rd while Himmat Rai carded a six-over-78 to be placed tied 138th.
Source: Asian Tour
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