Shih-chang sizzles with a 67 to grab lead

PETALING JAYA: Chan Shih-chang of Taiwan shot an impressive five-under 67 to snatch the opening round lead at the inaugural US$60,000 Jakarta Classic at the Imperial Klub Golf.

Shih-chang posted a bogey-free round that comprised five birdies to take a one-shot lead over Indonesia’s Johannes Dermawan and Malaysia’s Arie Fauzi, who posted matching 68s at the Asian Development Tour (ADT) event yesterday.

England’s Shaun Malone carded a 69 to stay third while American James Bowen, Indonesia’s Andik Mauludin, Australia’s Jake Stirling and Japan’s Mitsuhiko Hashizume are bunched in equal fifth on matching 70s at the Jakarta Classic, which is the seventh leg on the ADT schedule.

“I’m very happy with how I played today. I shot a total of five birdies and not make a single bogey,” said the 27-year-old Shih-chang, who is playing in his first event of the year on the ADT, which is the feeder circuit to the premier Asian Tour.

The top three players on the ADT Order of Merit at the end of the season will earn Asian Tour cards for the following year.

All ADT events this year will be given Official World Golf Ranking points, which is a great boost to them as it will help them to qualify for the World Cup of Golf in November and the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro.