Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan made a determined start to the Singha Laguna Phuket Open today with an opening hole birdie, following it with two more amid a string of pars before an ace on the par three 16th hole from 171 yards with an eight iron.

He proved he had an eye for the cup in his second nine at the THB4 million Asian Development Tour / All Thailand Golf tournament, holing out for an eagle on the par four third hole to cement his early lead with a bogey-free nine under par.

Playing with compatriot Kammalas Namuangruk who triumphed at Red Mountain last week, and Australia’s Aaron Wilkin, who clinched his debut victory on the ADT at the BRG Open Golf Championship in Da Nang in September last year, Rattanon said “It’s a fantastic day for me.

I made a hole in one on 16, which was unbelieveable. That’s my second, the first one was in Samui on the Asian Tour, maybe ten years ago,” he added.

“It was a front left pin today. I tried just to get it on the green but hit a perfect shot with a little cut, wind right to left, and it was heading straight to the hole.

“I thought it would be near but when I walked to the green I could only see two balls, and one in the hole,” he laughed.

After a string of birdies following his eagle, with two holes left Rattanon admitted he was aware of his score and the possibility of posting a 59.

“I tried to make birdie on seven and eight,” he said. “Seven is a long par four, I hit the fairway but I missed the green left in the bunker and could not get it up and down.”

Danthai Boonma, playing in the afternoon wave, made a run at the lead with a string of six birdies mid-round, but a bogey on 14 and the last hole left him three shots back, alongside fellow Thais Itthipat Barunatanyarat, Thanpisit Omsin, Pavit Tangkamolprasert, Suttijet Kooratanapisan and Japan’s Naoki Sekito.

With an afternoon start in Round Two and the prospect of more hot weather, Rattanon plans to stick to his playing strategy but is also enjoying his time on the ADT away from the main Asian Tour.

“The weather is very hot and humid. It was very hot today but luckily we had some wind. I like to play in Thailand on the ADT,” he said. “Lots of friends here but I prepare just the same as on the Asian Tour, and same strategy tomorrow.”

In eighth spot, on five under par, lies an all-Thailand group of Ekpharit Wu, Natipong Srithong, Nitithorn Thippong, Nutdanai Nuangjaknin, Chapchai Nirat and Tunyapat Sukkoed.

Preferred lies are being played for the first two rounds, which rendered Rattanon’s score of 61 being ineligible for a course record at Laguna Phuket, the venue for this week’s tournament.

The Singha Laguna Phuket Open, a THB4 million co-sanctioned event by the Asian Development Tour and the All Thailand Golf Tour, is one of two ADT events scheduled for May, with the THB3 million ADT/All Thailand Partnership was held at Red Mountain Golf Course in Phuket from May 2-5.

Main image: Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan pictured in action at the Singha Laguna Phuket Open. Picture courtesy of the All Thailand Golf Tour.