Alor Setar (KEDAH): Khor Kheng Hwai played near flawless golf to seize the first round lead of the inaugural Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Darulaman Championship on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old, who secured his breakthrough victory on the flourishing domestic circuit at the Penang Championship in September, carded a seven-under par 65 to lead by three strokes at Darulaman Golf & Country Club.

Local Mohamad Azman Basharudin, who has shown flashes of outstanding form this season but has yet to go all the way, was second after a bogey-free 68.

Tony Lam Kong Loong and Shahriffuddin Ariffin were joint third with matching 69s, while Akhmal Tarmizee, Nachimuthu Ramasamy, Iylia Jamil, Rizal Amin and Kemarol Baharin were tied on two-under in fifth spot.

A brilliant putting display left Khor satisfied with a nice cushion at the RM180,000 tournament, which is the penultimate event on the 2015 calendar.

“I started on the 10th hole with a birdie,” said Khor. “And from there I felt comfortable. I hit the ball well and putted really well – my putter was hot today.

“I had eight birdies in all and a bogey – made the turn in two-under, before adding another five birdies over my second nine. It was a really good day and one of those when almost everything I putted went in,” he added.

Leading first round scores (Par-72) >
65 – Khor Kheng Hwai
68 – Mohd Azman Basharuddin
69 – Tony Lam Kong Loong, Shahriffuddin Ariffin
70 – Akhmal Tarmizee Nazari, Nachimuthu Ramasamy, Iylia Jamil, Mohd Rizal Amin, Kemarol Baharin
71 – Kenneth De Silva, Muhd Wafiyuddin Abd Manaf, Wilson Choo, Nazarudin Talib
72 – Shaaban Hussin
73 – Muhd Izzat Safuan, Mohd Azry Asyraf, Zur’ie Harun, Lim Eng Seng, Lam Yu Shuen, Muhd Rusli Johari