Sergio Garcia of Spain is expecting his first-born in March and he’s all excited about it. On Thursday, he and Kurt Kitayama of United States shot matching five-under-par 66s in round one to share the lead at the US$1 million SMBC Singapore Open.

 

 

 

                                   Sergio Garcia officially switched his equipment brand in early 2018

 

 

Garcia took a while to warm up at the Asian Tour season-opener. The reigning Masters Tournament champion, who teed off at the 10th hole, started with a streak of pars that was ended by a bogey on the 15th.

 

However, a birdie-eagle finish on his opening nine helped him find his rhythm and he went on to sink another three birdies before he ended his round.

 

After finishing tied-third at the Asian Tour Qualifying School last week, Kitayama is physically tired but in high spirits after a great opening round.

 

 

 

                                          Kurt Kitayama celebrated his 25th birthday just a week ago

 

 

It was his first time playing on the award-winning Serapong course and he did exceptionally well, evident from his near-flawless performance. The 25-year-old American scored six birdies against one bogey.

 

Casey O’Toole of the United States, Koumei Oda of Japan and ex Singapore Open champion Jyoti Randhawa carded matching 68s to share second place.

 

O’Toole scored the first ace of 2018 at the par-3 second hole of Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course. He teed off with a seven-iron, 168 yards from the pin. The American won a five-year Golden Circle membership worth 500,000 points, which is equivalent to a 25-night stay in an executive suite at the Shangri-La Hotel in Tokyo.

 

Tirawat Kaewsiribandit of Thailand was on his way to share, or even seize the lead before play was suspended at 5.03pm due to lightning risk. The 28-year-old is five-under-par through 16 holes.

 

Tirawat birdied the fourth and fired three consecutive birdies from the 16th to 18th to make the turn at 31. The siren sounded after he teed off from the 8th tee box.

 

What you need to know

 

• Kurt Kitayama celebrated his 25th birthday just a week ago, on 14th January.
• The American is enjoying a rich vein of form at the moment. He was tied-third at the Asian Tour Qualifying School (and earned his Asian Tour card for 2018) and finished first at the SMBC Singapore Open Qualifying Tournament.
• He hails from Chico, California and he went to school at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Kitayama is ethnically Japanese but he doesn’t speak the language.
• Sergio Garcia officially switched his equipment brand in early 2018.
• He won the 2017 Masters Tournament on what would have been compatriot Seve Ballesteros’ 60th birthday.
• Garcia is expecting the arrival of his first child in March this year, just in time before he defends his title at this year’s Masters Tournament.
• Along with the one he scored in Singapore, Casey O’Toole has two hole-in-ones in his professional career. He scored one last year in Malaysia at the Royal Selangor Golf Club, also with a seven iron.