SJM Macao Open | Round 1 Highlights | Asian Tour

Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul [main picture], helped by a touch of inspiration from PGA Tour star Tom Kim, and Ding Wenyi from China, made fine starts at the US$1million SJM Macao Open today – taking a share of the lead following first-round seven-under-par 63s.

They are in front by a shot from Germany’s Dominic Foos and Australian Jack Thompson, on 64s, here at Macau Golf & Country Club – in the 22nd staging of the Asian Tour event.

Korean Sungjae Im, Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut, Indian Pukhraj Singh Gill, plus Ye Wocheng and Bobby Bai from China are a stroke further back following 65s.

𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬
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one of the great old courses of Asia. It’s not the longest, but it certainly has a couple of tricks up its sleeve. Let’s keep you up to speed with what’s already happened this morning. Yes, it was a tough day for Lee Westwood. This his parsaving effort at the fifth, but it will be a round of three bogeies. A double bogey against the lone birdie, four over par for his opening round. And Tuanarat also at the same hole. This will be his seventh birdie against two bogeies. He would complete the first round at five under 65. And runner up to Ratan Wana. Last year at this event, Gun Cherun already made an eagle on his opening line nine looking for his second eagle. Make the turn four under par. Still playing the final hole, 7 under par for the round and he would waste no time collecting birdies on the front side of the golf course. That was for three in a row at the fifth and like actually mentioned seven under making his way up for ninth. But the man who’s set the pace so far, Chinese Wy Ding that an Eagle on the 18th, his ninth of the day took him to the turn in 31. He would pick up birdies at one and four on the front side before dropping a shot at eight. And a lovely curling birdie, but finding the mark there at nine. Him into the clubhouse. A beautiful opening round of seven under 63. So that’s how your leaderboard looks here midway through the opening round of the SJM Macau Open on six. They now in the middle of the green this for birdie start to move a little left there. Oh, very nicely done. Great response to the drop shot at the fifth. Fong back to even absolute dart of a T- shot into the sixth for Sakansin. [Music] Well done. And like he’s done so many times in his career. That putter working its magic. It’s an Mr. for Birdie on the seventh. He’s a man who hasn’t changed his putter in about 25 years. No, that’s the only one last for him. And what does this putt do here? Gun at the seventh. Putting from just past the hole. I need to say it. Too late. Went in. The first ever player from Macau to hold a full Asian tour card. Calvin C. Third shot from the back of the eighth. Oh yes. Well done. That’ll erase some of the sting from that bogey bogey start. That might bounce just enough forward. No, dug in early with a good shot. Here’s a man who had a great week in Vietnam. One on the Asian Development Tour a week ago. Sarin Vonchet. [Music] He’s been known to hit little chip shots around the green one-handed Austin Treslo. This is his second to the short seventh. Brilliantly played low driving wedge for Kker into the ninth. This for birdie. Yeah. Well hold 33 JM actually finished runner up in the individual portion to Taiichi Co in that Asian Games. Take a second shot. Slight downhill lie. Usually that type of wedge shot comes in low. Exactly what’s going on here. Go in. Fabulous from IM at the eighth. Austin Trusslo for his third consecutive birdie. And Austin Trusslo in good rhythm finding this run of birdies after a double bogey at the fifth. Well, he made hard work of it, but it’s a excellent four when the dust settles at the ninth for co. Yeah. First look of the week at South Korea’s Chunyong Wang R3 11th. Cross country effort comes over that spine. Starts to move a little right. Oh, 10 to 11 and Chase Keeper the back bunker. Oh, this is pretty good. Oh, that is stunning. I’ll go to the 18th and this is Guatemala’s Jose Toledo. An eagle opportunity. Nicely paced there. Should get him up to the underass. Gun was saying it when he was in the commentary box with us. This green is playing a little firmer and it has in addition pass of the SGM Macau Open to the firm bounce. He’s tracking nicely. What a T-shot at 11 for Liha Tong. You’re not going to see many closer than that. Yeah, nice good putt there for the young amateur tien. Starting his day with a bogey at the 11th on the golf course, but couple of birdies there. Tupat par for Kelvin C. been told this is a birdie attempt. So found it found a green in two on this par five. So a solid two foot birdie for Kelvin C. Just enough. Tricky one. come through the shadows and up this gentle little rise before it starts to shimmy right now. John Catlin trying to hold his birdie. Get back to level par for the round. Okay, safely in. Catelyn selects a third birdie of the day. Drove the green at the short 15th. Kelvin Z this for Eagle. A little spine there that should start to gather a bit of pace. Nicely cozied up there for C. Come back for Tanka Malpraet Birdie at 15. Yep. Slides that in the left edge. Puppet after starting with a double bogey finally gets his tally into red fingers. hasn’t made anything of significant note this back nine kept there, but you fancy his chances of popping this one in on 15. And indeed he does to get back to one under. He can be aggressive with this button. Okay, starting to find a couple birdies now. fever back to one over par. See what Kim having a bit of a rotten afternoon at three over park. And this is a birdie look at par three. Despite all the struggles he’s had since winning the Asian Order of Merit, he’s always been able to roll the rock beautifully. That’s a nice birdie, too. She won. That’s how you do it. Now big hitting Singaporean Nicholas Cham. This for Eagle on the 18th to get him back to Ethan Bar. Oh, well done Chammy. His girlfriend Olivia on the bag with him this week and she’ll be delighted to see her man turn it even far. Definitely see from the palm trees there on the right side of the green. The strength of the windi much more direct line. Very good line. Excellent call from George Bigalow and excellent execution from young Tai Chi. Now to Taiichi’s good friend, Hong Kong’s Matthew Jung. He’s got a birdie opportunity here on the 14th. 82 second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. So every point he can bag will count. That takes him up to 300 bar. The little devil sitting on your other shoulder says never. Yeah, it’s evened out just fine. What a fall from Catlin. All right. Tumbles it in over the front edge some Jake. Easy green to read, evidently. Oh, took a little wobble but topples in well for Taiichi. Back to back birdies for Taiichi. Ziha Jin from China attempt after 15. played the DP World Tour for a majority of this year after winning the China Tour Order of Merit back in 2024. A nice birdie found a chance to finish underpar with a strong finish up coming holes. There’s always plenty of birdies, plenty of great moments around this Macau Golf and Country Club, but it’s going to be Gun Charun of Thailand and Wing of China will take the lead. Thanks for watching the Asian Tour on YouTube. Don’t forget to like and subscribe.