Ilonen in share of the lead
Finland’s Mikko Ilonen and Australia’s Tony Carolan shared the lead following the opening round of the Ballantine’s Championship after five-under-par rounds of 67.
The 28-year-old Ilonen, who won two European Tour titles last season, the Scandinavian Masters and the Indonesian Open, carded six birdies and a bogey, while the 39-year-old Carolan had a bogey-free but eventful round – he sacked his local caddie after five holes – to share a one-shot lead at the Pinx Golf Club on Jeju Island.
Graeme McDowell,Paul McGinley and England’s Simon Griffiths were among a chasing pack of 10 players on four-under-par in this dual sanctioned Asian Tour and European Tour event.
American Anthony Kim, whose parents hail from South Korea, and previously unknown Hwang Inn-Choon, who was invited to the event by the Korean PGA, also carded 68.
Kim’s playing partner KJ Choi, the home favourite, shot one-under, including a double-bogey six on the seventh when he was denied relief next to an ant hill.
Padraig Harrington made a steady but unspectacular start, salvaging a 71 by finishing with successive birdies.
McDowell from Portrush, Northern Ireland, tied for fifth in the Dubai Desert Classic last month, and made three birdies and two bogeys on his opening nine after starting at the 10th.
Successive birdies on the par-five fourth and the par-three fifth elevated McDowell to three under before a four on the par-five ninth, his last, resulted in a 68.
McDowell said: “They were quite generous with the pins today, so there was a little bit of a score to be had but you’ve still got to be quite smart.
“I played the last seven holes in three-under, so it’s pleasant enough, and it was nice to finish with a birdie.”
McGinley was pleased with his performance after struggling early in the season and is chasing a first European Tour win since the 2005 Volvo Masters.
“It was a good day,” the 41-year-old said. “I hit 15 greens and birdied three of the par fives.
“I putted much better today and that’s the difference.
“It’s the first time this year I’ve got away to a good start.”
Australia’s Scott Hend made a sensational start and was six under through 11 holes, including a birdie on the eighth after rescuing the ball from a tree where it was one and a half feet off the ground, and holing a bunker shot on the 10th.
However, the 34-year-old was level-par on the back nine, including a bogey five after finding the water at the last.
“It’s always eventful when I’m playing,” said Hend. “You never know what’s going to happen.
“I had my worst three shots the last three holes. I hit three five irons and hit them all fat.”
