Asian Tour: McKibbin leads low-scoring charge with record round at Link Hong Kong Open
Tom McKibbin shoots course record 60 on opening day at Hong Kong Golf Club, with local amateur Jeffrey Shen not far behind
Tom McKibbin set the Link Hong Kong Open alight on Thursday, firing a course record 10-under-par 60 on a day of low scores in Fanling.
The Northern Irishman’s eight birdies and one eagle left him a shot short of the magical 59 that Patrick Reed produced on his way to winning last year on the Hong Kong Golf Club’s composite course.
Jazz Janewattananond carded a 61 to sit alone in second, with Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Louis Oosthuizen and Thomas Pieters tied for third at eight under.
Just three shots separated the top 10, with Hong Kong amateur Jeffrey Shen Wang-ngai producing a stunning seven-under 63 to sit alongside the likes of International Series Rankings leader Scott Vincent and LIV Golf’s Matt Jones.
“It was obviously a very, very good round,” McKibbin said. “I didn’t really miss too many shots, holed a few nice putts and took advantage of the two par-fives that there are out there. And yes, 60 shots later, I’m sitting here.”
As well as a course record, it was a personal one too, with McKibbin never having gone lower than 62 before Thursday. Matching Reed was never really on the cards either, despite the 22-year-old, who started his day on the 11th hole, being six under by the time he got to the 18th tee.