Ireland’s Niall Turner blew all hope of contesting this year’s British Open after shooting a horror nine over par 81 on the first day of a two-round International Qualifier in Thailand.
The Muskerry golfer posted six bogeys and a final hole triple bogey to be lying in second last place among the leading 68 on the Amata Spring course near Bangkok.
Turner’s 81 was one better than the worst score of a 82 and left the Irishman 13 shots behind the leading duo of American Jonathon Moore and India’s Anirban Lahiri.
The top three qualifiers will go through to contest July’s British Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.
Lahiri, who won his second Asian Tour title at the SAIL-SBI Open on home soil last week, was cruising on seven-under before dropping a bogey on 16 and a costly double bogey on the signature 17th hole at the Amata Spring Country Club, where players must take a boat ride to the green after their tee shot.
Moore, winner of the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit last year, enjoyed a hot putting day highlighted by an eagle three on the 15th hole.
Kwanchai Tannin of Thailand, Kodai Ichihara of Japan, Australian Scott Barr and Japanese amateur Hideki Matsuyama were a further shot back in the IFQ, where the top-four players at the end of the two-day qualifier will earn tickets to The Open Championship in July.
“I’m really happy with the way I played. I drove the ball really well. I’m happy with the way I’m swinging it. All and all it was a good round. I would have loved to finish better,” said Lahiri.
Lahiri was delighted to be in the running of earning a Major debut despite hitting his wedge shot into the water on 17.
“I love watching all The Opens. I remember watching Tiger (Woods) go out with his two-iron and smashing it around St. Andrews. He would kill the field and that was fantastic. Hopefully if I can play well tomorrow, I can be a part of that,” said the 24-year-old.
Moore, who played on the back nine, sank a huge eagle putt on the 15th hole from the edge of the green from 50 feet before carding three straight birdies from the first hole.
“My form hasn’t been great. My set up has been quite off. I’m slowly working on it and I felt like it got better out there. The reward is very cool. I feel like I’m in it. It is actually good experience and it will kind of feel like playing in the weekend rounds tomorrow,” said Moore, who played in the US Open in 2006.
Kwanchai, who is aiming to qualify for his first Major appearance, put his local knowledge to good use as he returned with five birdies against two bogeys.
“I like this golf course. I played well here at the Thailand Golf Championship except on the last day. It was an okay round for me. It would be a dream come true to be able to qualify for The Open. That’s every professional golfers’ dream,” said Kwanchai, who finished in 58th place on the Order of Merit last year.
Barr of Australia was on five-under after 16 holes and but failed to maintain his momentum as he returned with two closing bogeys. He will be aiming to make his second appearance in The Open since making his Major debut in 2004.
“I played previously in 2004 and the atmosphere and crowd were good. It was a good experience. Hopefully I can get back out there. My form is okay, I’m hitting and putting okay. I’m doing pretty well and hopefully I can hang in there,” said Barr, who finished third at the SAIL-SBI Open in India last week.
