Australian fires five-under 67 to lead former champions Jbe Kruger and Gavin Green by one shot after opening round.
AUSTRALIAN Kevin Yuan produced a stunning eagle to take a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters at Taiwan Golf & Country Club today.
The 29-year-old carded a five-under-par 67, highlighted by a two on the par-four 14th, to lead South Africa’s Jbe Kruger, Malaysia’s Gavin Green, Chinese Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po and Thailand’s Atiruj Winaicharoenchai on 68.
Yuan, who started on the back nine, was already four under when he reached the 333-yard 14th.
He opted to hit driver and found the green before holing an 18-foot putt for eagle.
“So me and Clayton, my caddie, were thinking about hitting driver to reach because we had the front tee box this week, and driver’s been feeling good,” said Yuan.
“So, I hit driver and hit it to like maybe 18 feet, just short of the flag, and I had a really good putt there. So yeah, it was driver and a holed putt.”
Yuan also made five birdies and two bogeys as he opened the tournament strongly, continuing a solid season that has lifted him to 31st on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
“I made a few big pars today, which really helped my score because on this course it’s quite easy to make bogey,” he said.
“The rough is really thick, and the fairways are pretty tiny. So you miss the fairway, and you’re just trying to save par.”
Former champion Kruger also enjoyed an impressive start, carding an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys.
“It was brutal,” said Kruger, who won the tournament in 2024 for his third Asian Tour title.
“It’s just a tough golf course. You have to play well. You can’t make mistakes. Every single shot you have to concentrate on because it’s just that tough.”
Green, the 2017 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner and 2017 Taiwan Masters champion, also returned a 68 after making five birdies and one bogey.
Playing in the tournament for the first time since his victory, Green was particularly pleased with his performance after missing three months with tennis elbow.
“Obviously, had not much real expectations,” he said.
“I’ve been injured for like three months now. I think I just actually played quite well and actually had the feeling of playing nice again.”
Shen Wei-cheng, New Zealand’s Denzel Ieremia, Sweden’s Charlie Lindh, Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig and South Korea’s Minhyuk Song were a further stroke back on 69.
Several players carded 70s, including the Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena and Thailand’s Ratchanon Chantananuwat, who turned professional last week.
Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert, fresh from winning the Yeangder TPC last week and moving to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit, opened with a 71.
Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, third on the Merit list, carded 74, while defending champion Rattanon Wannasrichan of Thailand struggled to a 76.
