Thailand’s Poom Saksansin impressed Golf fans by opening with a flawless seven-under-par 65 to take a share of second place at the US$7 million CIMB Classic on Thursday.

 

The promising Thai golfer created a huge impression in his debut appearance when he fired seven birdies including four on the trot after the turn at the TPC Kuala Lumpur.

 

 

                                   Poom garnered a lot of attention at the CIMB Classic Tournament

 

 

Smith returned to the scene of his early Asian Tour playing days where he continued to produce another assured performance with a sparkling 64.

 

The Australian, who came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2014, was one of the revelations that year where he also finished tied-fifth finish at the CIMB Classic.

India’s Anirban Lahiri got off to a great start with a five-under 67 in the first round to be at tied-8th in the CIMB Classic at the TPC Kuala Lumpur here on Thursday. His fellow Indian, SSP Chawrasia (72) was tied-44th.

 

Lahiri, third last year at the same event, is coming off a tied-9th finish in the last start on the PGA Tour in the BMW Championships, the third leg of the FedExCup play-offs.

 

Currently tied-8th, Lahiri is three shots behind Australian Cameron Smith, who after a successful rookie season on PGA Tour, holds the lead for the first time in his career. Smith shot an error-free 64 with five birdies on front nine and three on back nine.

 

Lahiri, playing the CIMB Classic for the sixth time, has a great affinity for the TPC Kuala Lumpur, which until 2015 was called the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club when he won the 2015 Malaysian Open.

 

The 67 on Thursday marked the 11th time he scored 70 or under in last 13 rounds at the TPC Kuala Lumpur.

 

The other two scores have been 72 - at the 2015 Malaysian Open second round but he won the title; and the final round of 2016 CIMB, when he finished third. He also shot 62 at this event last year.

 

"I know the course well and I like it, the way I like the DGC (Delhi Golf Course)," said Lahiri before the start. With four birdies in first five holes and nine in his first nine holes on the backstretch of the course, Lahiri looked set for a real low number. But the second nine had a lot of 'misses' from makeable range. Lahiri had one bogey when the putt slipped by from under 10 feet and a birdie on par-5 third.