Thailand’s Sarut Vongchaisit stamped his mark on the first round on the Nam A Bank Vietnam Masters today, chasing his first professional win with a sparkling 11 under par 61 that put him clear of the field by three shots.

He leads promising Vietnamese amateur Nguyen Tuan Anh (64) in solo second place at the US$90,000 Asian Development Tour event, ahead of compatriot Nguyen Nhat Long (66), Japan’s Naoki Sekito (66) and Dodge Kemmer (66) of the USA.

Starting his round on the back nine at the Royal Long An Golf & Country Club, Sarut opened with a couple of pars before ramping up his game with six of 12 birdies in the first nine holes, only dropping a single shot on the par three third hole before his finish.

“It was quite a perfect golf round for me,” he said after posting his score. “I missed one or two fairways but hit all 18 greens which made it a lot easier than usual.

“I hit it close so that made a lot of putts easy, and made a lot of birdies of course,” he added. “My wedge game has improved so much this year, and today showed it, I hit many inside four feet.

“I don’t know how many putts off the top of my head but there were a lot of one putts,” he said. “Eleven of them were one putts, and only on the par five I hit two on and made two putts on that one hole,.

“I like this course a lot, I think it suits my game,” he said. “I love these greens, they are just perfect. I am so used to the speed (9.8) which is what I am used to practicing on at home, so that makes it a lot easier.

“This week might change things a little bit but I am focused on playing on the Asian Tour. If i play well this week we’ll see, still not sure of my schedule but I want to get on the Asian Tour so to finish in the top 10 on the ADT, that’s my goal,” he said.

“A win would definitely mean a lot, it would be my first professional win,” he said. “I have been close so many times so hopefully i can get over the line this week,” he added.

For sixteen-year-old Nguyen, making his third start on the ADT, every outing is a learning experience.

“The ADT right now is very strong,” he said after his round. “A lot of good golfers, some Asian Tour guys play here,so for me it helps me to learn how professional golfers play without much pressure on myself, ” he added.

In sixth place, the Thai trio of Sahasawat Ariyachatvakin, Tawit Polthai and Natipong Srithon posted rounds of 67, finishign the day on five under par.

One shot further back, in a share of ninth place, were India’s Pukhraj Singh Gill and Karandeep Kochhar, Sam Broadhurst of England, Kim Yong Rok of Korea, Malaysia’s Marcus Lim and Thailand’s Wit Pitipat, Nirun Sae-ueng, Witchayanon Chothirunrunrueng and Jakraphan Premsirigorn.

Play was suspended in the 54 hole tournament due to adverse weather conditions and 17 players still have to complete their first round. Play will resume tomorrow at 6.30 am.

Main picture: Sarut Vongchaisit of Thailand.