Jeju Island, Korea, April 23: New Zealand’s Mark Brown got his campaign at the €2.1 million Ballantine’s Championship off to a strong start when he carded a seven-under-par 65 to take the first round morning lead on Thursday.

Brown soared to the top of the leaderboard with six birdies and an eagle at the magnificent Pinx Golf Club to take a single shot lead over Korea’s Kang Kyung-nam who posted a 66 to take second place.

England’s Robert Dinwiddie is in third place on 67 while Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing and Thailand’s Chawalit Plaphol are amongst the six players that includes world number six, Henrik Stenson of Sweden tied for fourth on 68.

Two-time Asian Tour winner Brown is enjoying a return to form since his back-to-back victories on the Asian Tour at the Sail Open and Johnnie Walker Classic in India last year.

While the 34-year-old New Zealander has not been on a winning streak since then, he knows that his confidence will be key in ensuring he returns to his winning ways once again.

“I didn't play well for a good few months, and just lost it a little bit.  But it doesn't take much to get it back,” said Brown. “You just hit a few good shots and I'm the type of person that the only way I can gain confidence is by actually seeing the proof, not by trying to kid myself. When you start to see the ball fly a little bit straighter, then you slowly gain confidence.”

Meanwhile, Lam showed why the strength of golf on the Asian Tour is becoming a hot talking point when he fired five birdies against a lone bogey on the par three, 14th to give himself a deserving lead going into the second round on Friday.

Since winning the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia last year, the Singaporean had to endure a frustrating start to the new season where he missed the cuts in five of the seven events he had played in so far.

However, Lam knows that the blip in form is only temporary and he is primed for a good week ahead.

“I’m happy with how I’ve played today but I also don’t want to get too carried away with my performance. After all, it’s only the first day and there’s still three days of golf ahead,” said the Singaporean.

 “I’m only going to concentrate on the days ahead and play to my true potential. Hopefully it’ll turn out the way I want it to be,” added Lam on his objectives at this week’s Ballantine’s Championship, the first Asian Tour event in Korea this season, to be sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and Korean PGA.

Chawalit also proved that he is be able to match up against the best in the world-class field that includes three-time Major winner Ernie Els, former Masters champion Fred Couples and defending champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland.

Chawalit, who is currently in 46th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, gave himself a healthy lead with an opening eagle on the 543-yard par-five 10th.

The Thai pared the next five holes before a making a birdie on the 16th but gave that shot back again on the 17th for his lone bogey of the round.

Two more birdies on the fourth and ninth in his homeward run ensured that he would stay just three shots behind Brown, the morning leader.

“I drove the ball very well today. The weather conditions were benign today, the winds were not blowing very strongly and it certainly help with the low scores,” said the two-time Asian Tour winner.

Ends.

For further information, please contact Asian Tour’s Calvin Koh at the tournament media centre: + +82 6 4792 1162. Also visit www.asiantour.com for live scoring this week.

About the Asian Tour
As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia.  This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Carlsberg (Official Beer), ESPN Star Sports (Official Regional TV Broadcaster), Pin High (Official Apparel Partner) and Srixon (Official Ball). Sentosa, Singapore’s premier island resort getaway, is the Home of the Asian Tour.

About Ballantine’s
Ballantine’s is the No.1 Scotch whisky range in the Asia Pacific region (17 years old and above – IWSR 2007). Now the world’s No.2 Scotch whisky, Ballantine’s has won over 60 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the iconic 30 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of master blenders that dates back to 1827.
Ballantine’s is the title sponsor of the Ballantine’s Championship, an official sponsor of the Barclay’s Scottish Open held every July at the exclusive Loch Lomond Golf Club, and was also a sponsor of the UBS Hong Kong Open in 2008.