Fuente: © Asian Tour
http://www.asiantour.com/

ASIAN TOUR: LI LAUNCHES INTO JOINT LEAD IN CROWNE PLAZA OPEN

/noticias.info/ Sanya, China, August 17: China's Li Chao charged into the joint early first round lead at the Crowne Plaza Open on Thursday as he renewed his love-affair with Yalong Bay Golf Club.

The 26-year-old Li, touted as a future star, carded a blemish-free five-under-par 67 in the US$200,000 Asian Tour event and was joined atop the leaderboard by Chinese Taipei duo Lin Wen-tang and Tsai Chi-huang and Australian Robin Hodgetts.

Title holder Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand and last season's number one Thaworn Wiratchant were a further stroke back alongside India's Digvijay Singh, who was third in last year's Crowne Plaza Open.

It was at Yalong Bay three years ago that Li announced his arrival, shooting an ace in his Tour debut en route to playing in four rounds in the Sanya Open. The talented Chinese, who also sank a hole-in-one at this year's TCL Classic at the same venue, hopes to hit the jackpot this week.

"This is over four rounds, the first day doesn't mean anything," said Li. "I like the course and it's challenging. You have to concentrate on every shot. I putted good today and just hit fairways and greens and didn't make any mistakes.

"I played my first Asian Tour event here in 2003 and I remember well that I made the cut with a hole-in-one during the second round. I've got more experienced now and I'm more relaxed on the golf course.

"I hope to win in Asia, so I'll just try in every event," added Li, who won the China Tour Order of Merit last season. notas_de_prensa_archivo