Sarit Suwannarut marked his opening round of 64 at the Indonesia Open with two stunning eagles to take a one stroke lead into Friday at Pondok Indah Golf Club in Jakarta.

It was the first time Sarit has hit two eagles in a tournament round, and he is now looking for the double after winning the Indonesian Masters at the end of last year.

“I’m feeling really good, feeling comfortable. It’s been a challenging year. Play has not been really good in the first half but I’m feeling better now so hopefully I can keep going,” he said after his round.

From way downtown ??

Sarit Suwannarut sinks this on 18 for his second eagle of the day and signs for a 64 to lead by one ?https://t.co/QQChqRrghk #MandiriInOpen2023 #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/wggVSQj2ww

— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) August 3, 2023

Five birdies and one bogey saw Sarit post an eight-under 64 at the  $500,000 Asian Tour event.

“My driver and irons were all right today, but the main thing was the putting, it was really good,” he said. “I saw the line on every hole, and everything seemed to drop.

“On the last, the tee shot wasn’t good, in the left bunker, but I got a good lie and hit it to the front of the green. I made the putt somehow,” he laughed.

Korea’s Woohyun Kim (65), who took advantage of an unexpected eagle in the morning session to post the early clubhouse lead on seven-under, said he appreciated his good fortune but felt he was ready to compete after a disappointing showing at the event last year.

Starting on the back nine, he set the early pace by scoring four birdies, including a run of three on his way to the par five 18th hole, but the hole-out from around 30 yards caught him by surprise.

“It was a good start today, I made birdie on the first hole. On the 18th, I thought my third shot was a little bit long but the bounce was soft and it rolled in to the hole. It looked like it would end up a few feet away but it got to the hole and made eagle. I wasn’t expecting it, but I’ll take it.”

Kim said after his round that it been an improvement over his previous performance in the event. “I played here last year, I liked the course and made the cut but finished almost last. Today I’m playing better than before, my irons, all shots are better than last year.”

A birdie finish on his last hole saw Australia’s Scott Hend (65) edge into a share of second place with Kim and the Australian was bullish on his prospects for the week.

“Yeah, it’s alright. I mean we had lift, clean and place out there so it’s playing a bit easier obviously. Scoring is going to be quite low this week because the greens are all right and they are quite receptive so I’ve just got to keep plugging along. It’s nice to get a good first round instead of trying to chase all the time and let’s see if we can have another low one tomorrow.”

Scott Hend. Asian Tour

Despite being an Asian Tour veteran who is turning 50 in 12 days’ time, Hend feels he is still able to compete with the younger guys on tour.

“It’s really no difference, is it? I’m still fit, I think I’m fitter than a lot of the young guys out here. I intend to play golf for a long time and hopefully they keep seeing me in the rear view mirror catching them,” he aid after his round.

Korea’s Doyeob Mun (65) joined the group in second with eight birdies and a dropped shot on the ninth hole.

Ryo Hisatsune (66) shares fifth place on six-under-par with Richard T Lee of Canada, Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong and Chang Wei-lun of Chinese Taipei.

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The 18-year-old Dubai Creek amateur is one of 14 invitees to the $350,000 TAKE Solutions Masters in Bangalore, India. It follows his Asian Tour bow at last year’s HERO Indian Open (co-sanctioned by the European Tour) and is just the ticket as he counts down to the Asian Games golf tournament, a 72-hole individual and teams strokeplay event at Pondok Indah Golf Club in Jakarta from August 23-26.

RELATED: Thomas thrilled by India call-up for 18th Asian Games

“A friend told me about the TAKE Solution Masters, a lot has been said about the event, so I got the contact of one of the guys at TAKE Solutions, sent them an email, asked them for an invite and that’s how I got it,” said the MENA Tour star who missed the cut at the Indian Open following rounds of 78-75 in March 2017.

“I think it will be great prep for the Asian Games, good to get some competition under my belt before I head over there [Jakarta].”

Thomas has played this week’s venue, the Karnataka Golf Association Golf Course, before and rates it as “one of the best in Indian”. Still, he’s  been forced to reacquaint himself with the Bangalore layout’s subtleties.

“I played it four years ago though so I don’t really remember it. It was different playing it today,” Thomas said after his Monday practice round. “It’s in great shape, the rough is up and the course is playing amazing.

“The aims and expectations are as usual, just try and have fun, play as well as I can. I’m just looking forward to competing again.”

Thomas will divert to Deli after this week for a four-day camp with his Indian team-mates before arriving in Jakarta on Aug. 17.

India has won three individual medals at previous Asian Games and Thomas, who has verbally committed to play collegiate golf for Rickie Fowler’s former Oklahoma State University Cowboys from 2019 till 2023, would like to be the fourth.

“I think we’re already in good shape so I wouldn’t be surprised if we do well that week… and this week,” he said.

Thomas is also set to represent India at the Eisenhower Trophy (World Amateur Teams Championship) at Carton House near Dublin from Sept. 5-8 before returning to the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship at Sentosa G.C.in Singapore from Oct. 3-7. He finished T-35 at last year’s Asia Pacific in New Zealand.

The post Thomas preps for 18th Asian Games with second Asian Tour start in Bangalore appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 18-year-old MENA Tour trailblazer has been selected to spearhead India’s four-man team at the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia in August and the world amateur No.17 is clearly humbled by the call-up for what is the continent’s answer to the two-week long, multi-sport Commonwealth Games.

“As an amateur golfer, it is my dream to represent India at the international level and competing in the Asian Games and wearing the Indian blazer means a lot,” the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club member told the Indian Express. “I played in Asia Pacific Amateur Championship and Nomura Cup for India earlier but when I tee off in the Asian Games, it will be different feeling for me and the whole family.”

Thomas’ father John put the call-up into further perspective by reflecting on the sacrifices the Dubai-based family have made to help their son become one of the best amateur golfers on the planet.

“To see him at the Asian Games opening ceremony will be the biggest reward for us.”

Rayhan Thomas in action at the 2017 Asia Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Wellington G.C. in New Zealand. Photo Jamie Troughton.

The Asian Games golf tournament, a 72-hole individual and teams strokeplay event to be played at Pondok Indah Golf Club in Jakarta from August 23-26, plugs a gap in a busy summer schedule for Thomas.

He’ll tee it up in the St Andrews Links Trophy on the New and Old Courses from June 8-10 – Justin Rose won the title in 1997 – before contesting the 123rd Amateur Championship at Royal Aberdeen and Murcar Links from June 18-23. Thomas cruelly missed the cut for the matchplay phase of the British amateur by a stroke last year but it did spur him to a historic semifinal showing at the 70th U.S. Junior Amateur.

He’ll have a tilt at the 71st edition of the U.S. Junior Amateur at Baltusrol G.C. in Springfield, New Jersey (July 16-23) before looking to avenge his missed cut (by five strokes) at the prestigious 116th Western Amateur at Sunset Ridge Country Club in Northfield, Illinois from July 31-Aug. 4.

After the Asian Games, Thomas is set to represent India again at the Eisenhower Trophy (World Amateur Teams Championship) at Carton House near Dublin from Sept. 5-8 before returning to the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship at Sentosa G.C.in Singapore from Oct. 3-7. Thomas finished T-35 at last year’s Asia Pacific in New Zealand.

India has won three individual medals at previous Asian Games and Thomas, who has verbally committed to play collegiate golf for Rickie Fowler’s former Oklahoma State University Cowboys from 2019 till 2023, would like to be the fourth.

“I know I will not turn professional before that [finishing school in the U.S. in 2023]. So winning a medal in Indonesia will be more than winning a professional tour title. I am very excited about this opportunity.”

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