7-week stretch takes Hong Kong’s Cheung from Europe to Africa as Asian Tour resumes
Matthew Cheung has been playing in Europe during a gap in the Asian Tour, but he’s back and eyeing success in the International Series Morocco
The Asian Tour resumed on Thursday after a six-week break, and for some in the International Series Morocco field it was the first time in two months on the circuit.
Not that much had changed. John Caitlin and Peter Uihlein finished the first round on top of the leaderboard with matching five-under-par 68s, and then just two shots separated the next 12 players.
Caitlin came within a whisker of winning at the Royal Golf of Dar Es Salam course last year on his way to claiming the Tour’s order of merit, but has had an up and down 2025 so far, finishing inside the top 10 just once.
“I played pretty much flawless golf,” Caitlin said. “Very happy with the start, but three more rounds to go. Let’s see.”
Among those on three-under was China’s Sampson Zhang, who has already had a pretty successful week, having grabbed a spot at the Open Championship during a 36-hole final qualifying on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old came through a tough field at West Lancashire that also included Hong Kong pair Taichi Kho and Matthew Cheung, and all three had early starts to make it to Rabat.