Poom Saksansin put his name on the leaderboard of the GS Caltex Maekying Open in Korea today, surprising only one person – himself.

Having arrived here following a seven-under-par 64 last Sunday to finish in a tie for sixth at the Singapore Open presented by The Business Times, the Thai started as one of the favourites.

He duly lived up to that this morning by firing a first round four-under-par 67 on the notoriously demanding Namseoul Country Club. Korea’s Taehee Lee, the only player to win this event back-to-back, in 2019 and 2020, holds the clubhouse lead with 65.

However, there was a look of confusion on Poom’s face after signing his scorecard.

“I’m not really expecting that here,” said the Thai, a four-time winner on the Asian Tour – the most recent the 2023 Yeangder TPC.

He explained he’s played here four times before and missed the cut on each occasion.

“I planned not to come here this year, to be honest,” he added.

Taehee Lee.

Records show he missed the cut in 2018, 2023, 2024, and 2025. He also withdrew in 2019 and 2020.

Asked how he managed to get the better of the course this time, he said: “I don’t know. Normally, I just cannot hit from the fairway here – it’s just like I cannot control the ball. The second shot is very important here. You have to be precise, due to the pin location. You cannot go over the pin.

“Also, I just scored well on the par threes today. I made three under on them. So, that’s why I scored well. And I found good places to make to up and downs.”

After starting on the front nine, he made the turn in four under thanks to birdies on 13, 15, 17 and 18. One of those, the 17^th, is a par three. The back nine was not as strong but the bogeys he made on five and seven, where countered by birdies on three and six – both par threes.

He said: “Made a long one on the first par three I birdied and the rest were inside 10 feet, which was nice. Here the greens are fast and firm.”

The 32-year-old made seven birdies and was bogey-free in that final round on Sunday in Singapore to record his best finish on the Asian Tour this year.

“I feel it just lucky last week, really,” he said. “It’s just one good round on the last day. It really helped my confidence. That’s why I came here.”

The Thai enjoyed a good season last year, finishing 10^th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

He best performance came on Korean soil, when compatriot Sadom Kaewjanana beat him by two shots on an epic final day at the Kolon Korea Open.

“That hurt a little bit, because winner gets a five-year exemption to play in Korea,” he said.

“It was a good year though. I just focus on being happy. I don’t think too much. Don’t work after work. Live your life.”

Pictures courtesy Korea Golf Association.