There have been plenty of famous moments on the 18th hole at the Hong Kong Open: Rory McIlroy holing out from a bunker to win in 2011, Miguel Angel Jimenez’s play-off triumph in 2013 and Ben Campbell draining a 15-foot birdie putt for victory last year among them.
If Nitithorn Thippong goes on to lift the trophy on Sunday at Hong Kong Golf Club, then add his chip in for par from the greenside bunker on Thursday, having failed to get out with his first shot from a plugged lie, to the hole’s storied history.
While the Thai golfer’s shot was merely to keep his one-stroke lead after the first round, the eight-under-par 62 could be the morale-boosting performance he needs to get his season back on track.
A three-time winner on the Asian Tour, Nitithorn is presently 81st on the order of merit, and needs two big weeks, at Fanling and in Qatar, to make the season finale in Riyadh at the beginning of December. A win at last year’s Indonesia Open at least means he does not need to worry about losing his card.
“The key for me today was to make myself flow and stick with the plan. I have been thinking too much about my golf and my swing. I have had a problem with my mental game this year.”
Hard on his heels are defending champion Campbell, Kevin Yuan and Kazuki Higa, who all shot 63s.
While Campbell is chasing John Catlin at the top of the International Series rankings, Yuan is just trying to keep his card, with only the top 65 retaining their privileges.
“It has definitely been on my mind,” Yuan, who is presently 56th in the order of merit, said. “Playing the Asian Tour for the past couple of years, it is such a strong Tour. It is a huge goal to play well this week and hopefully next week to secure my card.”
Of the Hong Kong contingent, Jason Hak Shun-yat had the best opening round, shooting a 66 to sit in a tie for 13th at four under. A shot further back were Taichi Kho and Michael Wong, with matching 67s.
The highlight of Wong’s round was an eagle at the par-4 17th, when his nine iron from 140 yards out rattled into the hole.
The 27-year-old trainee professional, who came through a local qualifier last month, said it had been “great to be able to play in this huge event against some of the top players”.
Kho, meanwhile, recovered from a bogey at the par-5 third, and he would have been closer to the leaders if any of the birdie putts he had on his closing three holes had dropped.
Still, he was three shots better than in the first round last year, when he said the nerves got the better of him.
“I think it’s a good start,” Kho added. “I feel like I stuck to my guns out there, and I feel like I did a lot of good things.”
Playing partners Patrick Reed and Justin Rose finished at five under, and one under, respectively.
