Aussie Andre Stolz grabs the first round lead at SK Telecom on OneAsia Tour
Australian Andre Stolz, who is currently the Order of Merit champion on OneAsia Tour, had a blistering first day at the SK Telecom Open, where he grabbed the lead with a brilliant six-under, 66 to keep the rampaging K.J.Choi at bay.
Defying thunderous winds of the Pinx Golf Club, at the resort island of Jeju, Stolz stumbled with just one bogey in an otherwise perfect round. Choi, world number 15, and who has just come out of a mammoth victory at the Players Championship, is resting
at the second spot along with Australian Scott Arnold.
“I played great early on,” said world number 267 Stolz. “It was tough with the wind and with some flags which were not many paces on. While you were also hitting against a wind which felt like a hurricane which made it hard to get on, but I was able to hit
some pretty good shots.”
Stolz’s position at the Order of Merit on the OneAsia Tour is seriously threatened by GS Caltex Maekyung Open champion Kim Kyung-tae, and Stolz badly needs a win at the SK Telecom to retain his position. The 41-year-old Aussie is struggling with his game
since the beginning of the season, finishing tied for 41st in Volvo China Open and missing the cut at Ballantines Championship last week. Stolz was not able to win at the Maekyung Open though he performed to the best of his abilities.
Choi, after a splendid win at the TPC Sawgrass, had just arrived a fortnight before the championship and defied the jet lag to make his move right away. Choi shot a wayward drive on the first hole to stumble with a bogey but recovered quickly to balance
the rest of the round.
“Considering the jet lag, because it’s still early in the morning in Jacksonville, I feel tired but the galleries cheered me up and gave me more energy and made sure I kept going until the end.” Choi has won the title thrice in 2003, 2005, and 2008 and with
his current form, holds every chance to run away with the title yet again.
The US$ 1million tournament will proceed to the next round on the scenic par 72, 7264 Yards Pinx GC course, promising some exciting Asian golf for the audience.
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