Storming start in Phuket
England’s Graeme Storm maintained his solid start to his opening round at the Johnnie Walker Classic to share a two-shot advantage with clubhouse leader Brad Kennedy in Phuket.
Storm carded a four under par 32 on the front nine before shooting an eagle two at the par four 10th to move to seven under after 14.
Kennedy made the turn at 33 following three birdies and despite dropping a shot at the 14th, picked up a further five birdies on the way home.
New Zealand’s Richard Lee carded a 67 and was joined on five under par by Scott Gardiner and 2003 US Masters Champion Mike Weir, who both have two to play.
England’s Nick Dougherty led a group in the clubhouse on four under after shooting 68, despite carding a 31 on his opening nine holes.
Dougherty, starting on the back nine, struck five birdies in his opening six holes, including a two at the par three 14th, to reach the turn five under par.
The spectacular 193 yard 14th, the course signature hole, is played from an elevated tee down onto an impossibly small island green with water on three sides.
But despite shooting a birdie at the first, Dougherty dropped two shots to head home in 37.
Qatar Masters champion and world number eight Retief Goosen was five shots of the lead, while Ernie Els, who is searching for a third Johnnie Walker Classic title this week, struggled in the opening stages of his round and was one over with three to play.
Els hit a bogey and a double bogey on the back nine, but four birdies on the way home rescued his round.
