Thailand’s Runchanapong Youprayong recovered well from a difficult start in the wind-affected first round of the Lexus Challenge in Vietnam today, bouncing back to end the day with a one shot lead at five under par.

His compatriot Itthipat Buranatanyarat sits at four under par, with Japan’s Leo Oyo in solo third on three under par. Thailand’s Sangchai Kaewcharoen and Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig are one shot further back in the opening tournament of the Asian Development Tour season.

The US$85,00O event, held at The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram, was beset by high winds in the morning, and players had to adjust their games accordingly.

“I feel good because it is my first time here and there was a lot of wind today,” said Itthipat after his round. “I practiced yesterday and I still didn’t know how to play in these conditions but this morning on the range I worked out how to get the ball under the wind,” he explained.

Itthipat Buranatanyarat

Leader Runchanapong was able to overcome an early wobble and used the recovery momentum to build his round.

“I didn’t start off very well,” he said. “I doubled my fourth hole of the day but on the next par fives I was able to capitalise, I had a birdie and an eagle so I was able to get my round going.

“Off the tee was my strength today, plus I made a couple of putts. You have to keep it on the fairway here, and keep the ball pretty low because the wind is blowing out there,” he added.

In sixth place, on one under par, are Thailand’s Natipong Srithong and Ekpharit Wu, Paul San of Malaysia, French amateur Jean Francois Peron, Peter Wilson of Australia and Korea’s Lion Park.

Chiu Han-ting of Chinese Taipei leads a group in 12th place on even par, together with Tanapat Pichaikool and Jakraphan Premsirigorn of Thailand, Malaysia’s Amir Nazrin and Akinori Tani of Japan.

Some of the afternoon wave were still out on the course when play was stopped at 6.10pm due to poor light. A total of 16 players are yet to complete their first round and play will resume for them at 6.50am. Round Two will start as expected at 6.45am.

The Lexus Challenge, which is now in its fourth year, is jointly sanctioned by the ADT and the Vietnam Golf Association and is the opening event in what is expected to be one of the strongest schedules in the history of the ADT.