Lopburi, Thailand, February 14: Japan’s Kazuki Higa took the clubhouse lead with a brilliant six-under-par 64 thanks to an early birdie blitz in the weather-hit opening round of the Thongchai Jaidee Foundation 2019 on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Higa made a fast start with five consecutive birdies in his opening six holes to take the clubhouse lead at the ฿4million (approximately US$123,000) event hosted by Thai veteran star Thongchai Jaidee.

Countrymen Chinnarat Phadungsil and Natthapong Niyomchon signed for matching 66s to trail by two shots at the Asian Development Tour (ADT) event staged at the 13th Military Circle Golf Course.

Starting on the first, Higa reeled in birdies from holes two to six to make the turn in 30. He grabbed another birdie on hole 10 and eight pars on his way home for a 34 in his back nine.

“I started out very well and was on a roll. My tee shots were very accurate off the tee which helped on this course since the fairways are so narrow.

“I was honestly just very lucky today. I haven’t been putting well since the start of the year. I couldn’t get the putts rolling in the second nine but I just stayed out of trouble,” said Higa, who totalled 26 putts.

The talented Japanese first burst onto the scene with a maiden wire-to-wire victory on the ADT in Bangladesh in his very first attempt. He went on to notch five top-10 results in his rookie year but would narrowly miss out on his Asian Tour card after finishing eighth on the ADT Merit ranks.

“I am very happy to have opened with a low round, I missed the cut at the last ADT event because I wasn’t confident in my swing. But if I stay out of trouble and continue with the same game plan I know it will be a good week,” added Higa.

Chinnarat credited Thongchai’s course advice he received at the start of the week to his opening round where he traded six birdies against two bogeys.

“This course is very difficult. Before this week I spoke to Thongchai and he gave me advice on how to play some of the holes, since he grew up playing on this course.

“If you are not strategic with where you place your tee shots you might end up in a tight spot. Like on hole eight where I made bogey, I hit a good drive but it bounced right and I was blocked by a tree,” said the three-time Asian Tour winner.

Play was first suspended at 4.32pm local time due to lightning threats before it was later abandoned for the day at 6.30 pm due to fading light.

A total of 54 players will resume their first round at 6.45 am local time on Friday with the second round starting at 6.45am local time as scheduled.

The Thongchai Jaidee Foundation 2019, jointly-sanctioned by the All Thailand Golf Tour and the ADT, was inaugurated in 2015 with the intention of providing more playing opportunities for the region’s rising stars as well as to draw attention to Thongchai’s charitable foundation.

The leading seven players on the final ADT Order of Merit will earn playing rights on the premier Asian Tour for the 2020 season.

All ADT events offer Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points. The winner will receive a minimum of six OWGR points while the top six players and ties will also earn points based on a sliding scale.

Leading first round scores (incomplete)

64 -Kazuki Higa

66 – Natthapong Niyomchon , Chinnarat Phadungsil