Australia’s Min Woo Lee and Scotland’s David Drysdale fired breathtaking nine-under-par 62s to jointly lead the first round at the 2023 Macao Open golf tournament yesterday.
As the highest ranked player in the field, the Australian star fired an eagle, eight birdies and one bogey, which came on his first hole, the 10th, at the Macao Golf and Country Club in Coloane.
“Sixty-two anywhere is a really nice score, especially on a course like this. It was tricky, and the wind got up,” said the 25-year-old from Perth, a two-time winner on the DP World Tour.
Drysdale, starting on tee one, birdied the first two and made three-in-a-row from the sixth to make the turn in five under, before more gains on 10, 12, 14 and 15.
“I missed makeable birdie putts on the last three holes, including a 10-footer on the last,” said the 48-year-old, who played in Europe for over 20 years before successfully negotiating this year’s Asian Tour Qualifying School.
India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu, joint second here in 2017 when the event was last played, Ian Snyman from South Africa and Ben Campbell from New Zealand, also went low, carding 63s.
Chinese veteran golfer Zhang Lianwei fired a par 71 while his compatriot Liang Wenchong scored 68.
The tournament is sponsored by integrated resort operator SJM, which owns 13 of Macau's casinos.
– Xinhua,MPD
