Hoey Starts out Hot in Thailand


Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey fired a course-record, 8-under-par 64 to take the 18-hole lead in the True Thailand Classic. The European Tour event got underway Thursday at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand.

Hoey, a 35-year-old five-time winner in Europe, carded four birdies on each the front and back nines for a one-stroke lead over Spain's Carlos Pigem, Taiwan's Chien-yao Hung and American David Lipsky.

Hoey noted he took advantages of the conditions when he could. "We had 10 or 11 holes with not much wind, which was an advantage teeing off early," he told the European Tour's website. "I hit the ball well, and it suits me that there's a bit of length off the tee; you can carry a few corners and reach the par fives in two.

"It has been a long time since I had a bogey-free card. To be bogey-free and have no fives on the card - and a course record - is a nice start," added Hoey, whose last victory came in the 2013 M2M Russian Open. "I'm swinging the club well so hopefully I can put three more good rounds together and see what happens.

"I started to hit the ball well in the Middle East, but I was coming 50th or thereabouts each week. At least I was making cuts and making money, but throwing in a few double bogeys was ruining my scorecards. Hopefully this is the start of some more bogey-free stuff.

"This is a marathon. I'm just pleased to get something out of it, because I've been working hard for a long time and not getting the scores. This is really satisfying to get a good score and hopefully I can follow it up tomorrow - Friday 13th is going to be lucky for me!"

Trailing by two is India's Shiv Kapur, while three behind Hoey are eight players. That group incudes 51-year-old Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiménez and local favorites, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Prayad Marksaeng.

The winner of last week's Malaysian Open, India's Anirban Lahiri, carded a 69.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015010/leaderboard/index.html.