Local resident Han Ren got off to a hot start Thursday at the inaugural Asian Amateur Championship in southern China, posting an amateur course record of seven-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead at the World Cup Course at Mission Hills Golf Club.
Han, 21, who played a three-hole exhibition match against Tiger Woods at the same venue in 2001, leads over Korean Han Chang-won, with the Philippines’ Mhark Fernando in solo third, two shots back.
Starting at No. 1, the Shenzhen native opened with a birdie and added three more at holes 5-7, making the turn at 4-under. Birdies at 10, 13, 15 and 16 kept the pace going, but Han made bogey at the last when he was unable to get up and down from a front bunker.
“I think the highlight of my round today was getting away with a few mistakes and managing to stay consistent,” said Han, a junior at Indiana University.
“It is too early to think about winning the tournament. Winning a ticket to play in the Masters Tournament is the biggest attraction of this tournament yet it is also the biggest distraction for me. I need to focus on my game and enjoy every shot.”
The Asian Amateur is a 72-hole stroke play event, with the champion receiving an exemption into the Masters Tournament, as well a place in International Final Qualifying for The Open Championship.
1 Han, Ren China 65
2 Han, Chang-Won South Korea 66
3 Fernando, Mhark Philippines 67
T4 Eustaquio, Judson Philippines 68
T4 Sherratt, Jordan Australia 68
T6 Asistio, Antonio Philippines 69
T6 Spearman-Burn, Peter New Zealand 69
T8 Tamura, Naoyuki Japan 70
T8 Ismail, Mohd Iszaimi Malaysia 70
T8 Hung, Chien-Yao Chinese Taipei 70
T8 Woo, Jonathan Singapore 70
T8 Yoon, Jung-Ho South Korea 70
