Han Ren Flies China Flag to Take Lead at Asian Amateur
China’s Han Ren made the ideal start at the inaugural Asian Amateur Championship in southern China today (Thursday), posting an amateur course record of seven-under 65 to take a one-shot lead in the landmark event at Mission Hills Golf Club’s World Cup Course.
The 21-year-old Han, who played in three holes in an exhibition match against Tiger Woods at the same venue in 2001, leads by one from Korean Han Chang-won, with the Philippines’ Mhark Fernando in outright third another stroke back.
Starting from the first, Han opened with a birdie and added three more in a row on holes five, six and seven. Turning in four-under 32, further birdies came at 10, 13, 15 and 16 before a disappointing bogey at the last when he was unable to get up and down from a front bunker.
Han, currently a student at Indiana University, said: ““I think the highlight of my round today was to get away from making a lot of my mistakes and managing to stay consistent.
“It is too early to think about winning the tournament. Winning a ticket to play in the Masters Tournament is the biggest attraction of this tournament yet it is also the biggest distraction for me. I need to focus on my game and enjoy every shot.”
Speaking of his brush with Woods, he added: “I was very nervous when I played with Tiger back in 2001. I didn’t get to talk to him much, because I was very nervous. I don’t remember what I said to him, but I think he didn’t understand me. It was pretty interesting.”
Korea’s Han, meanwhile, also staked his claim for the title, which counts an invitation to the 2010 Masters Tournament and a place in International Final Qualifying for the Open Championship at St Andrews as prizes for the winner.
The individual leader at the Nomura Cup (Asia-Pacific Amateur Golf Team Championship) last month, he showed his quality when he opened round one with three consecutive birdies.
Said the 17-year-old: “I was able to make birdies on the first three holes and then the fifth, which really got my confidence going. I was able to make two more birdies on the back nine with no bogeys, so I knew I was putting together a really good score.
“I lead the Nomura Cup earlier this year, so I knew I was playing well and was looking forward to coming to China. I came into this event with no specific expectations. I just wanted to play well and aim to win,” he added.
Playing alongside China’s Hu Mu and Hong Kong’s Steven Lam in a showcase of the diverse range of young amateur talent in Asia Pacific golf, he is further shot in front of the Philippines’ Mhark Fernando, who posted 67 in the morning session.
Another Filipino Judson Eustaquio and Jordan Sherratt of Australia returned rounds of four-under 68, while Antonio Asistio, also of the Philippines, and Peter Spearman-Burn of New Zealand are on 69 after round one.
The players are part of a field of 116 players from 30 Asia Pacific Golf Confederation member countries competing in the first Asian Amateur Championship, being played approximately 90 minutes north of Hong Kong.
More than 150 countries are seeing television coverage of the Asian Amateur Championship, with programming that includes two hours of event exposure during the third and final rounds. In addition, 30-minute highlight shows will follow the first, second and final rounds.
IBM, KFC, Rolex and Zurich Financial Services, Inc. are the event’s sponsors, adding to the support already being provided by the Masters Tournament and The R&A.
