Teenager Han Chang-won takes early lead in Volvo China Open – European Tour
Young Korean Han Chang-won managed his way on top of the leader board after the first round of the Volvo China Open on Thursday.
The four-day championship is being contested at the Luxehills Country Club in Chengdu.
Han came in the tournament being a rookie introduced by the European Tour committee. He took full advantage of the easy pin placements on the first day and carded a superb eight-under par, 64. The youngster did not worry much about the happenings around
him. The players were also making birdies as crowds were cheering and roaring.
The teenager was also making birdies slowly. He looked in complete momentum with his beautiful swing. The youngster was really putting well on the greens. He had a total of eight birdies and did not score a bogey for the day. This was a great display of
golf by the teenager who is playing this championship as a rookie.
Han sounded confident after his round and said, “It’s very good weather and I got a bit lucky today. I missed a few easy shots but most to the time I was perfect and hit the fairways and got close to the pins.”
The pin placements were surely on the easy side on the first day. Many players were seen attacking the pin from the fairway. The youngster has already gained momentum after the first round. This will surely test his patience and nerves on the second day
being the leader. Han will have to play well to maintain his lead as the notable players on the leader board will be charging on the second round.
As the pin placements and the greens were favouring players, four players share the second spot after the first round. Gareth Maybin from Northern Ireland, Englishman James Morrison, Bradley Dredge of Wales and Dane Soren Kjeldsen carded rounds of seven-under
par, 65 respectively.
Maybin was hitting the ball superbly. He had a few beautiful approach shots which paid him dividends. The Irishman started his day by making an eagle on the very first hole. From thereon, his confidence boosted and he went on to make five birdies. Maybin
was quite pleased with his score and is confident of continuing his momentum.
The 26-year-old Morrison was simply amazing with his game. It looked like he is familiar with the course as he carded a round of seven-under par, 65. His score card showed only seven birdies and rest all pars. The Englishman made his way on the leader board
by holding his putts on the greens.
Experienced Kjeldsen looked in fine form from the start. He certainly showed his class on the field and made three consecutive birdies on the front-nine. This was a brilliant show by the Danish golfer who had a total of seven birdies on his card. He did
not make any mistake and was bogey free for the round. Kjeldsen is just one stroke behind the leader and will be charging again on the second day.
The defending champion Yang Yong-eun had a solid start to the tournament. Although he missed a few short birdie putts during his round, he still managed to put up a score of four-under par, 68 for the first day.
Yang is just four strokes behind the leader and was hitting the ball with immense power. He can make history if he successfully defends his title in 2011.
Second day of this exciting championship will be held on Friday and some promising golf is expected.
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