Golf
Davies, Garrido share lead
2010-03-04 22:06
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Kuala Lumpur - Rhys Davies of Wales and Ignacio Garrido of Spain fired 7-under par 65s to lead the Malaysian Open by one stroke from Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand after the first round in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
Thongchai's 66 was matched by South Korea's Kim Dae-hyun.
Kim's compatriot, KJ Choi, an Asian Tour honorary member, carded a 67 to tie for fifth alongside England's Mark Foster, Spain's Alejandro Canizares and Denmark's Mark Haastrup at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
Davies, who has played on the Asian Tour for the last two years, sank seven birdies and credited his front nine performance for his shared lead.
"That is the key for me - when I start to make some birdies I want to take advantage of the fact I am playing well in that moment and really push on and make as many as possible," Davies said.
"It is scoreable on the front and there is a bit more length and trouble to the back nine, but from my point of view I try to play every hole as equally tough or easy whatever way you want to put it and try to have the same outlook every time that I step onto the tee."
Garrido was surprised with his start, having spent the last few months playing in snow in Madrid and finding the different type of grass here a challenge.
"I think to start with a 65 in any golf course is a great score," he said.
Thongchai, following a quarterfinals appearance at the Match Play Championship, putted from 20 feet for an eagle-three on the fifth hole. He was two strokes in front until two bogeys in his closing three holes.
Choi, a seven-time US PGA Tour winner, was disappointed with his bogey on the 18th hole.
"Even at the last hole, I hit a pretty good shot," he said. "I figured if I had a 4-under today, it would be a good round and I did better than that. I can't complain."
M Sasidaran emerged as the best-placed Malaysian with a 69.
Sasidaran collected six birdies, including a 40-footer on the 17th, against three bogeys.
"I putted really well today," he said. "I made just one or two mistakes but managed to recover well."
Leading first-round scores from the weather-affected Malaysian Open (30 players will complete their first rounds on Friday):
Rhys Davies (Britain) 65
Ignacio Garrido (Spain) 65
Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) 66
Kim Dae-hyun (South Korea) 66
Alejandro Canizares (Spain) 67
K.J. Choi (South Korea) 67
Mark Foster (Britain) 67
Mark Haastrup (Denmark) 67
Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand) 68
Ross Bain (Britain) 68
Scott Barr (Australia) 68
Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 68
Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) 68
Rahil Gangjee (India) 68
Robert Rock (Britain) 68
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