Fuente: © Southern Africa Tour
http://www.sunshinetour.com/

GOLF: ASIAN TOUR: LARA TAKES EARLY LEAD AT UBS HONG KONG OPEN

/noticias.info/ Hong Kong, November 16: Spain sensation Jose Manuel Lara fired a six-under-par 64 as he took the early first round lead at the US$2 million UBS Hong Kong Open on Thursday.

Lara, 29, enjoyed a blemish free round with France’s Gregory Bourdy and Graeme Storm of England who were a stroke adrift in joint second place. India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit leader, continued his steady form as he was two strokes off the pace at the Hong Kong Golf Club. Singh was tied in fourth place alongside Swedish talent Jarmo Sandelin and Korea’s Suk Jong-yul who is in search of his second title in his maiden season on the Asian Tour.

Starting on the 10th tee, Lara got off to a solid start with two consecutive birdies on the 11th and 12th holes striking a third birdie on the 17th. He enjoyed a steady run home with three more birdies on the first, third and eighth holes for the top spot.

“I putted so well. The greens are tough to read and I read them well today. Six under on this course, a par 70 is tough, and it is a good round,” said Lara.

“It is similar to Majorca, different weather but the course is a 70 as well and only two par fives. You have to negotiate the course well. It is not very easy,” he added.

Enjoying a bogey free round, Sweden's Sandelin is on target as aims to end his four year drought in Asia this week.

“I always have a target to win every tournament. I have not won a tournament here since I won the BMW Asian Open in 2002 and that’s four years ago. So, I’ll always have a winning attitude when I play. This is a good start and if I keep on going like this, I will have a chance,” said Sandelin.

After adopting a cautious approach in the opening round, Singh, who sustained a wrist injury in Japan in September, ended his round with six birdies against two bogeys.

“I started off really well and was four under after the first six holes and was pretty excited but just that coming in, I hit the ball well and did not hole too many putts,” said Singh.

“On the uphill chips, I can’t judge the distance because I let my right hand go up so I am using my putter now which I think is better for my wrist. If my ball is not going to be lying good, I’m just going to hit it to the front of the green,” he added.

With five birdies against a lone bogey, Seoul-born Suk Jong-yul, who won the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in April, admitted that he had adjusted well to the playing conditions which contributed to his low scores in the opening round.

“I love the style and conditions of this course. The trees here are tall and the conditions here are similar to the courses back home in Korea so I am quite comfortable,” he said. notas_de_prensa_archivo