With reporting from the Asian Tour
Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent fired a scintillating bogey-free eight-under-par 64 in the opening round of the $1.5-million International Series Singapore on Thursday on the Tampines Course at Tanah Merah Country Club.
Malaysia’s number one Gavin Green sits in second place after an equally impressive and flawless 65 while Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, Phachara Khongwatmai and Tirawat Kaewsiribandit, Korean Kyongjun Moon, Englishman Steve Lewton, and Filipino Juvic Pagunsan carded 67s – in severe sauna-like conditions.
Vincent won the International Series England in Newcastle in June and leads the International Series Order of Merit, having tied for 11th in the International Series Thailand in March, and was once again in inspired form in the Asian Tour’s new raft of million-dollar plus events.
“It was a great day, just got off to a really nice start, and then the momentum just kept going. As I have said before I am just out here trying to be a little better each day,” said Vincent.
“Today was a really good day, a lot of things went my way, a lot of putts went in, so it was a good challenge trying to stay present and stay in the moment and enjoy each stage and not get too far ahead. Yeah, so that was the big challenge today and the golf was phenomenal.”
He began his round on the back nine, and made birdies on 10, 13, 16 and 18; while on the front side he made gains on one, three, five and eight.
Not everything went his way though as on the par-three sixth he hit what looked like a precsion tee shot that was zeroing in on the pin but hit his playing partner American Sihwan Kim’s ball.
Said Vincent: “Sihwan hit a shot to about three feet – that was the real problem. My shot came in and pitched on his ball and then kicked all the way back [about 30 feet]. I was fortunate to walk away with a par there but a nice little challenge there for me trying to finish my round. I was happy to walk away with a par.”
Behind Vincent, Neil Schietekat fired a three-under-par 69 to be in a share of 19th with Jbe’ Kruger. Justin Harding and Jaco Ahlers had two-under 70s to share 26th with, amongst other, Adilson Da Silva. Keith Horne and Ian Snyman were on one-under, and Tristen Strydom carded a level-par 72. Jovan Rebula battled to a three-over.
Vincent’s younger brother Kieran signed for a bogey-free 68 in his debut round on the Asian Tour, and countryman Benjamin Follett-Smith had a one-over 73.
