Young talent Gavin Green of Malaysia tamed the blustery conditions at the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course to sign for an opening four-under-par 68 at the Fiji International on Thursday.

Starting from the 10, Green fired one eagle and three birdies against a bogey to turn in 32 before reeling nine straight pars on his way home. He trails leader Daniel Pearce of New Zealand by two shots in tied-fourth position.

India’s Rahil Gangjee posted a solid round despite suffering a two-shot penalty on his first hole 10 after arriving late on the tee. The 38-year-old Gangjee was disappointed for mixing up his tee times but made up for it by nailing four birdies and a closing eagle against a bogey.

Gangjee signed for an eventual 69 to tie in eighth place alongside a host of players, which included one-time Asian Tour winner Wade Ormsby of Australia, in the A$1.5 million (approximately US$1.14 million) event.

New Zealander Ben Campbell and Daniel Valente of Australia posted matching 67s to share second place at the event which is tri-sanctioned by the Asian, European and the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia for the first time.

Australian Peter Cooke provided the day’s highlight when he struck a hole-in-one on the par-three 15 with a sand wedge from 149 yards. He signed for a 71 to trail by five shots in tied-24th place.

Did you know?

  • Starting from the 10, Pearce fired three birdies to turn in 33. He soared with an eagle on the first after the turn and added three straight birdies right away before dropping two shots on his way home.
  • Pearce, a one-time winner on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, needed only 25 putts in his opening round of 66.
  • Green is chasing for a breakthrough win on the Asian Tour. He is ranked fourth on the current Order of Merit, thanks to three top-10 results, including two runner-up finishes in India and Chinese Taipei.
  • Green turned professional in 2015 and has won three titles on the Asian Development Tour.
  • Green had his father, Gary, on caddying duties this week.
  • Green depended mostly on his one-iron off the tee in his opening round. He only hit the driver off the tee on four holes, including the par-five 17 which he eagled.
  • This is the first time Gangjee was late for his tee time since joining the play-for-pay ranks in 2001.
  • Gangjee won his first and only Asian Tour title in 2004.

Via: Asian Tour