Wood blazes into the lead with a 63

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November 11, 2010

Chris Wood has shot a sparkling 63 to share of the lead at the Singapore Open – but he may not still be there on Friday.

Chris Wood fired a sparkling 8-under 63 to claim a share of the Thursday’s first-round clubhouse lead at the Barclays Singapore Open – but a four-hour morning weather disruption meant much of the field would still have to complete their first rounds at Sentosa Golf Club on Friday morning.
And with Igancio Garrido already tied for the lead at 8-under after only 11 holes, there is every chance that the charging Spaniard could have sole possession of first place when the opening round is completed on Friday morning.
Playing the Tanjon course, Wood made a blistering start, reeling off off three consecutive birdies, though play was suspended for four hours due to lightning between his second and third holes.
The 22-year-old added an eagle at the sixth to reach the turn in 31 and three more birdies in a row from the 11th saw him quickly move to eight under par and go to the top the leaderboard.
He was joined by his little-known Korean playing partner Kim Bi-o, who played the front nine in 33 and then added five birdies on the back nine to draw level with Wood.
Spain’s Igancio Garrido, meanwhile, was piecing together potentially the round of his career, the Spaniard taking his score to eight under in just 11 holes before darkness ended his bid.
The former Ryder Cup player had began with three straight birdies and picked up three more to play the front nine in only 30.
He then recorded birdies at the 10th and 11th before play was brought to a halt due to darkness.
Shigeki Maruyama was one stroke back in the clubhouse after posting a 64, the Japanese veteran making six birdies and an eagle with his only blemish coming with a bogey at the par-five 12th. He was level with Swede Rikard Karlberg, who has three holes to play.
Northern Ireland’s Gareth Maybin also made a fine start with a 65 to finish the day two shots off the pace in a tie for sixth alongside Anthony Kang, who was six under through 14 holes.
Darren Clarke was well placed in a big group of players at five under par thanks to a bogey-free effort that also included Graeme McDowell, Nick Dougherty, Miguel Angel Jiminez, Jamie Donaldson and YE Yang.
McDowell and Dougherty were still to complete their rounds and with the Tanjon layout playing the easier of the two, the duo’s efforts were even more encouraging given they were playing the Serapong course.
Dougherty had made five birdies in 11 holes while McDowell, eager to chase down Martin Kaymer in the Race to Dubai, began like a man possessed with five birdies in six holes from the third, the Northern Irishman likely disappointed his first round was curtailed.
Phil Mickelson was at four under par, as was Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, following solid 67s, while defending champion Ian Poulter was even through six holes on the Serapong layout.
Last week’s HSBC Champions winner Francesco Molinari, meanwhile, was two under after eight holes.
The 204-strong field will play both the Serapong and Tanjon courses through their first two rounds before the tournament reverts to just the Serapong for the weekend.