A sensational 10-under-par round from Thailand’s Newport Laparojkit saw him secure a commanding lead in the first round of the OB Golf Invitational presented by Sentul Highlands Golf Club in Bogor, Indonesia today, opening up a four shot advantage over the field.

“Honestly, the best I’ve ever played so far,” was his verdict after posting a score of 62, which started from hole 10 in the morning session.

“I didn’t really make any putts the first three holes, just burned the edges, and then I made two consecutive long putts, then a short one on the on the par three on 15 and then chipped in on 17. I just gave myself a lot of opportunities and made them.

The 26-year-old golfer, in his third year on the Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour, has been working on his game in order to move up the ranks and it certainly showed how much improvement he’s been able to make off the course.

Thailand’s Sangchai Kaewcharoen pictured in action at the OB Golf Invitational presented by Sentul Highlands on October 4, 2023. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf

“I’ve been working with my Dad a lot with putting and a lot of mental game, and that helped a lot for me to shoot 10 under,” he explained after his round at the US$70,000 ADT event.

As with the rest of the field, the location was a new one for the clubhouse leader as it’s the first time the ADT has been to Sentul Highlands, and Newport was certainly a fan of the debut venue.

“I really like the course, not that I shoot ten under and then say I like the course,” he laughed. “It’s in great condition, the greens are very nice and there’s a lot of good views here so I am enjoying it.

“The driving range is awesome and yesterday I was chipping for two hours because the chipping green was so nice,” he added.

Khalin Joshi of India pictured in action at the OB Golf Invitational presented by Sentul Highlands on October 4, 2023. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf

Sweden’s Filip Lundell, who also started in the morning, was the closest challenger with a first round score of 66, followed by Thailand’s Sangchai Kaewcharoen and India’s Khalin Joshi who shared third place with Justin Quiban of the Philippines with a score of 67.

In sixth place, with a score of 68, are Thailand’s Sarut Vongchaisit and Akinori Tani of Japan.

Rounding out the top 16 of the field with a share of eighth place on 69 are the Thai trio of Puwit Anupansuebsai, Arnond Vongvanij and Pattaraphol Khanthacha, together with top Indonesian scorer Indra Hermawan, Australia’s Deyen Lawson, Andrea Saracino and Michele Ortolani of Italy, Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig and Derek Petersen of South Africa.

The event, played from October 4-6, has attracted a field of 102 players and is the first time the ADT has played at Sentul Highlands, an 18 hole championship course designed by Gary Player and officially opened in 1997. Surrounded by several mountains in the Sentul City estate, the course offers sweeping vistas in nearly every direction.