Last week's runner-up Sami Välimäki started his round with three consecutive birdies and closed with a bogey-free 8-under 64 to take a share of the lead in the Thailand Classic.
Two tied at the top in Thailand after round one. #ThailandClassic
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 16, 2023
"A really good round. I started nicely and kept it going the whole day.
"I just kept playing and when I started hitting the ball really well, it just made it easy. I was putting really good the whole time and when I got chances I tried to make them."
Denmark's Martin Simonsen joined the Finn in the lead with a round that featured an eagle at the par-5 11th and a bogey at the par-3 13th.
"It's a great day. I thought it was going to be difficult out there with the wind, and it was. But thankfully I played the par fives really well, which helped. It was great.
"With the wind today, most of them were downwind, so that helped a lot, but you still have to hit the shots. I made it fairly easy for myself on the par fives, that's the key this week, I think."
Germans Alexander Knappe and Yannik Paul are tied in third place at 7-under.
Related: Kiradech Aphibarnrat relishing competing on home soil again in Thailand Classic
