Edoardo Molinari and James Morrison share joint lead of the first round of Barclays Singapore Open
Italian Edoardo Molinari and Englishman James Morrison has now claimed the joint lead of the first round of the Barclays Singapore Open so far as both players wrestled their way up the leaderboard playing the Tanjong course of the world renowned Sentosa Golf Club. Both Molinari and Morrison pulled in an amazing nine-under, 62 on the first day to edge past the rest of the field, many of whom are still working to complete their first 18-hole stretch. Both players carded a mammoth ten birdies and dropped just one shot in their opening rounds.
Y.E Yang, the most celebrated Asian golfer and winner of the PGA Championship, finished for an outright third with his flawless round of eight-under, 63, trailing the leaders by one shot. The highlights of his round came at the par-four, 6th where he pulled in a stunning eagle on the front nine, amply demonstrating his grasp on the Sentosa layout.
Five players are now in contention for the joint fourth including Jbe Kruger of South Africa, South Korean Sung Lee, Thai player Athaphon Prathumanee, Indian Rahil Gangjee, and Japanese Daisuke Maruyama. Gangjee and Maruyama are still to complete their first round holes and the group is poised at six-under so far.
Scot Colin Montgomerie ravaged the field at the start of his front nine earlier in the morning, giving an insight into a once brilliant Montogomerie. Winning Captain of the 2010 Ryder Cup European Team, the Englishman opened up his front nine with three birdies and a glistening eagle at par-four, 6th before dropping his first shot at eighth. He made the turn to card just one birdie and leveled it with another bogey on the last hole.
Top ranking American Phil Mickelson, who was hoping to make it big here at the scenic Sentosa, fell for a not-so-fortunate 71 in the opening round and is now tied for 109th position on the leaderboard. Starting off the front nine, Mickelson carded two birdies and lost them to two bogeys before making the turn. He then stumbled on a terrible double-bogey at par-four, 11th and had to work up to level the loss with two birdies on the closing holes. Irishman Graeme McDowell is still to finish off the first round and is currently playing for the last hole of the event. He has carded a humble three-under so far.
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