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Takudzwa Chitsiga-Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWEAN professional golfers Scott Vincent and Ben Follet-Smith chances of making the cut in the International Series Korea at Lotte Skyhill Country Club in Jeju hangs by the thread after yesterday’s opening round.

Vincent has better chances after he finished on level par and tied on position 71 while Follet-Smith is on seven-over-par.

With the cut-off on position 72, including ties, Vincent needs to do well during this early morning round if he entertains any hopes of making it.

The Zimbabwean, who is leading the International Series order of merit, had birdies on holes’ number eight, 12 and 18 and also dropped shots on holes’ number 10, 16 and 17.

Follet-Smith, who has been doing well back home, had a difficult outing and is on position 136 out of a field of 144.

Vincent will tee off this morning alongside Kim Bio and International Series Singapore winner Nitithorn Thippong while Follet-Smith will be with Yoseop Seo and Jinho Choi.

Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert is leading after sensationally making seven birdies in a row from the first.

Tangkamolprasert won a record seven titles on the Asian Development Tour and is on the verge of winning his third title.

Tangkamolprasert, is also a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, shot a sublime eight-under-par 63, with the preferred lies rule in play, at Lotte Skyhill Country Club Jeju to top the leaderboard ahead of Korean Eric Chun, in with a 65.

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, the 2019 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, South Africans Justin Harding and Ian Snyman, and Australia’s Brett Rumford all came in with 66s.

The most number of consecutive birdies on the Asian Tour is nine – achieved by Bernd Wiesberger from Austria at the 2017 Maybank Championship, impressively when preferred lies were not used.

However, Tangkamolprasert’s feat did match the record for most birdies at the start of a round, which three others players have done.