Tom McKibbin’s return to DP World Tour action couldn’t have gotten off to a much better start as the Holywood man birdied each of his opening three holes in the Porsche Singapore Classic at Laguna National Golf Resort.
After persistent rain meant no play was possible on Thursday, the first round eventually got under way on Friday morning, with the event officially being reduced to 54 holes shortly afterwards, and McKibbin, among the late starters, raced out of the traps, reaching the turn at -3.
Two more birdies on 10 and 11 got him to within touching distance of the lead, but a scrappy finish with three bogeys and one birdie saw him slip into the chasing pack and he ends the day tied for 24th.
Conor Purcell’s start was identical to McKibbin’s as he made three birdies off the bat, but a pair of bogeys closed out his opening nine and a double on 12 took him the wrong side of par, which is how he’d finish after trading a birdie and a bogey from there.
It leaves the Portmarnock man in a tie for 83rd, two shots off the provisional cut mark and likley needing a round in the 60s on Saturday if he’s to tee it up in the final round.
Matthew Jordan produced a back-nine birdie blitz to sign for an opening 65 and share the lead with fellow Englishman Marcus Armitage.
Morning starter Armitage set the early clubhouse target after firing an eagle, six birdies and a bogey in his 65 to get to seven-under-par before an impressive burst of scoring saw Jordan briefly take over at the top in the afternoon.
Having made four birdies and a bogey on the front nine, Jordan caught fire after the turn as he reeled off five birdies in a row to lead the way on eight-under.
But he found the water at the par-three 17th and had to settle for a bogey there, despite going close to holing from the drop zone for what would have been a miracle par save.
“It was enjoyable,” Jordan said. “Of course, when you shoot a score like that, it’s great. I hit it close, that was probably the main thing for today with these greens. If you can have some decent wedge play shots, then you can work it through the tee and access some pinch and that’s what I was able to do.
“Boring answer, sorry. Just the same as what everyone else, the fact that it’s 54 holes doesn’t really change anything I do. You’ve got emphasis on having a good start, because you get behind the eight ball a bit and then you are struggling, you don’t have as much time. That was nice to do that today.
“I got engaged and it’s my first round since then. I guess I should have done it sooner if I was going to play like that.”
Haotong Li was among the big group one shot back in a tie for third alongside Jordan Smith, Manuel Elvira, Callum Shinkwin and Adrien Saddier.
Local teenager Brayden Lee made a big impression on Friday as he opened with a 69. The 17-year-old amateur, who secured one of three qualifying spots last month to gain entry into the biggest event of his career so far, carded five birdies and two bogeys to get to three under par.
The cut will remain at the top 65 players and ties and will be made at the conclusion of the second round.
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