KAJANG (Selangor): Kemarol Baharin set the early clubhouse target as inclement weather wrecked the first round of the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) UMW Impian Championship.

Play was first suspended for 1 hour 15 minutes at 2:30pm before being called off altogether at 5:09pm with 57 players yet to complete their opening rounds.

Kemarol, who played in the morning session, shot a five-under-par 67 to lead the tournament by a singe stroke from Indonesia’s William Sjaichudin.

Notching six birdies against a single bogey, the 29-year-old put it down to keeping the ball in the fairways and putting confidently.

“I putted really well today. It was one of those days when almost everything went according to how I wanted to play,” said the multiple Tour winner.

“I hit the ball solidly and only missed one green,” he noted, in reference to his dropped shot on the par-five #5.

William’s round was loaded with ups and downs. The Indonesian had eight birdies in all – four on each nine and the most by any player out there today. However, over a six-hole stretch from the #2 to #7, he gave four shots back – including a double-bogey six at the #4.

Completed first round scores (Par-72):

(Malaysian unless stated)
67 – Kemarol Baharin
68 – William Sjaichudin (INA), Airil Rizman Zahari
69 – Supravee Phatam (THA), Mohd Sukree Othman, Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA), Piya Swangarunporn (THA), Sutijet Kooratanapisan (THA)
70 – Tanatchan Puaktes (THA), Wisut Artjanawat (THA), Khor Kheng Hwai, Mohd Rizal Amin