Golfers play even-par on Day I

Kuala Lumpur, September 18:

Nepali professional golfers Deepak Thapa Magar and Deepak Neupane played a round of even-par 72 on the first day of the Fortis International Challenge here at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club today.

The Nepali team was tied at 14th with teams from Bangladesh (Siddiqur Rahman and Jibon Ali) and Sri Lanka (Anura Rohana and Lalith Kumara) after the first round played on fourball format.

Korea’s Bae Sang-moon and Kim Hyung-tae snatched a three-shot lead after a round of nine-under-par 63.

The Koreans led Hong Kong’s Derek Fung and David Freeman, and Singapore’s Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing, who finished the day at 66.

Ghana’s Victor Bravemensah and Emos Korblah provided the surprise of the day with a 67 to share fourth place with the Philippine team of Angelo Que and Mars Pucay.

The home team of Danny Chia and Iain Steel endured a disappointing start with a 73 which left Malaysia anchored at the bottom of the 18-nation competition along with Uganda.

With the top-three finishers qualifying for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China in November, Bae, a winner on the Asian Tour, and Kim were delighted with their flying start. Both shot four birdies each with Bae adding an eagle on their card.

SCORES AFTER First Round:

63 - Korea; 66 - Singapore, Hong Kong; 67 - Ghana, Philippines;

68 - Pakistan, Italy; 69 - Nigeria; 70 - Brunei, Kenya, Myanmar;

71 - Indonesia, Swaziland;

72 - Nepal, Bangladesh,

Sri Lanka; 73 - Uganda, Malaysia.