Ian Snyman opened his long-awaited Asian Tour campaign with a six-under-par 66 on Thursday to be in a share of second in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship in Thailand.
Snyman, who has won five times on the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour circuits this year, won his Asian Tour card ahead of the 2020 season which was blown away in the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant lockdowns.
His six-under start saw him one shot back of American John Catlin, who made two eagles and three birdies on his way to a bogey-free 65. Snyman shared second with Chinese Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang. They were, in turn, one clear of fourth-placed Phachara Khongwatmai on five-under. There were five players on four-under in a share of fourth.
Mathiam Keyser was one stroke further back in a share of 10th on three-under. Adilson Da Silva, the Ballito-based Brazilian, had a tough start and carded a two-over 74.
Snyman started his round on the 10th, and was immediately in the action with a birdie there. He picked up two more on 12 and 13, and another on 16. He dropped his only shot of the day ahead of the turn on the 18th. He made three birdies with no dropped shots on his homeward nine, on the fourth, seventh and ninth.
It’s a lightning trip to Asia for Snyman, as he returns to South Africa to play in the Big Easy Tour Championship at Centurion on December 8. He currently heads the standings on the Road to the Sunshine Tour circuit, and he will be looking to lock up his Sunshine Tour card.
