Europe seizes lead in EurAsia Cup opener

KUALA LUMPUR — The European Team has drawn first blood seizing a three-point lead on the opening day of the EurAsia Cup in Kuala Lumpur Friday. Darren Clarke’s Europe team won three of the six matches, the Jeev Milka Singh led Asian Team took one, while the other was halved, giving 4.5 to 1.5 European Team points advantage on the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club course. Singh, who competed two years ago in the inaugural EurAsia Cup, admitted he was like a headless chicken endeavoring to keep abreast of all six matches. England’s Ian Poulter and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger secured the first point winning the opening Fourball encounter in defeating reigning Asian Tour No. 1 Anirban Lahiri of India and Korean Wang Jeung-Hun 4 and 3. Europe then gained a second point and with England’s Ross Fisher and Swede Kristoffer Broberg handing out the biggest defeat of the day, a 6 and 4 drubbing of Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng and Korean Kim Kyung-tae. Thirteen-time Asian Tour winner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and 2015 European Tour ‘Rookie of the Year’ An Byeong-Hun combined to secure the only Asian victory. The pair stormed back from 2 down after 10 holes with An birding three of the closing four holes in a 3 and 1 success over the all-England pair Danny Willett and Matthew Fitzpatrick. There was concern Frenchman Victor Dubuisson may have to retire when he needed on-course medical treatment for an apparent injured left knee on the 16th tee. Dubuisson and partner Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark were all square at the time over the all-Malaysian pair of Danny Chia and Nicholas Fang. However the current double Turkish Airlines Open champion stood tall to birdie the 16th but with Chia only taking birdie. Kjeldsen and Fung pulled off great birdies at the par three, 17th for the match to eventually end halved. Singh turns back clock In Hawaii, former world No. 1 and 2005 champion Vijay Singh rolled back the years as he charged into a share of the first-round lead with a sizzling seven-under-par 63 in the opening round of the Sony Open in Honolulu Thursday. Seeking to become the oldest winner in PGA Tour history, the 52-year-old Fijian racked up seven birdies with his cross-handed putting style on the tight, palm tree-lined layout at Waialae Country Club. He finished the day in a five-way tie along with Americans Ricky Barnes, Morgan Hoffmann, Kevin Kisner and Brandt Snedeker. If he wins Sunday, Singh would become the oldest winner in PGA Tour history, eclipsing the record held by Sam Snead, who won the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open at the age of 52 years, 10 months and eight days. Among the leaders, Kisner and Snedeker played in the afternoon. Reigning champion Jimmy Walker, who is bidding for an unprecedented third victory in a row at Waialae, carded a 69. — Agencies