European Tour

HONMA Hong Kong Open 2018

November 22-25

Hong Kong Golf Club

$2,000,000

Live Leaderboard

November 22-25

Hong Kong Golf Club

$2,000,000

Live Leaderboard

Round 1

Three-way tie at the top in Hong Kong

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

November 22, 2018

Aaron Rai, Jason Scrivener and Yusaku Miyazato lead the way at the Honma Hong Kong Open presented by Amundi after benefiting from favourable afternoon conditions on Thursday.

- Getty Images

“It was good," said Rai. "I think we were lucky with the weather today. When we got here this morning, it was kind of blowy, so the guys this morning had it harder than we did, but nonetheless it's a tough course. I think any anything under par was a good score and I was very pleased with a 65 to start off."

“Short game was pretty good. Missed a few greens early on and got up and down each time, which I think was important. I putted well, good pace control. Made a few putts, as well, which is nice.”

Three-time European Tour winner Atwal, Challenge Tour graduate Jack Singh Brar and American Micah Lauren Shin were the leaders' nearest challengers on four under after they all carded four birdies and no bogeys in their opening rounds.

Rai began his round with a birdie at the first but had to wait until the 12th to pick up his second shot after a string of pars. He was rewarded for his patience with an eagle at the 13th, sending a stunning approach to within a few inches of the cup before tapping in.

Australian Scrivener only managed one birdie on his front nine before picking up four shots in five holes from the 12th to get to five under, meanwhile Japan's Miyazato started from the 11th tee and carded birdies at the 13th and 15th, before making further gains on the fourth and seventh to join Rai and Scrivener at the summit.

“It was a noise round," said Scrivener. "Just kind of plodded my way around nicely and picked up a few birdies towards the end of the round."

“I think it's just the way this golf course is. The front nine is quite tricky and you've got to kind of be patient and wait for your opportunities, and I did that quite well today. It's a golf course I really like and I feel like if I can keep playing the way I am, it really suits me.”

South Africa's Thomas Aiken and Thailand's Danthai Boonma were in a tie for seventh on three under. Englishman Tommy Fleetwood sits further back at one under, with Spaniard Sergio Garcia posting level par.

“It's okay," said Fleetwood. "You can't press too hard and to be fair, I didn't play very good. I was fine getting off the tee. Drove the ball lovely which is the really important part to do, but yeah, my iron play was like way off. One under around there is not bad, but yeah, we had chances there but I mean, I didn't play very well.”

The day began with Challenge Tour winner Joachim B Hansen playing the opening tee-shot of the 2019 Race to Dubai season.