Green Posse
Youth takes the stage in Singapore Open
Singapore — Athletes often rise to the moment or fall into obscurity, when competing proudly upon their home stage.
Chih Bing Lam stepped onto the golf course at the Singapore Open Thursday in a bid to become the first local player to win the prestigious tournament and upstaged big name golfers on his way to a first round lead.
Chih birdied three of the last four holes to finish with a 4 under 67 and the clubhouse lead over Australia’s Marcus Both, who shot a 68 in a lightning delayed round that was stopped due to impending darkness with half the field still needing to finish their first round of play.
Play being suspended meant South Africa’s Ernie Ells, who surrendered this title in a playoff in 2006, and then missed the cut in 2007, was sitting at three under when darkness interceded to stop play. This left him second on the leader board with England’s Oliver Wilson and India’s Digvijay Singh.
Well known names, like Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, shot 1 over through the first round, while Phil Mickelson, who surrendered his world number two ranking to Spain’s Sergio Garcia a week ago, shot a 2 over 73 and sits six strokes from the lead in the $5 million Singapore Open.
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