18 October 2018: On a cold and windy day at the Nine Bridges Golf Club on Jeju Island in South Korea. Chez Reavie passed the test in flying colours, posting an efficient 68 to take a one-shot lead over Si Woo Kim and Danny Willett. Shubhankar Sharma began the week hoping to get a coveted PGA TOUR victory under his belt. But his hopes were dented by alien conditions as he settled for a 74 in the first round.
Shubhankar began his round on the 10th hole and soon was dealing with a spate of bogeys. He made three in five holes, partly offset by birdies at the 12th and 16th holes.
After the turn, Shubhankar conceded his fourth bogey of the round at the second hole. But back to back birdies at the next two holes allowed him back to even par. Unfortunately, though, Shubhankar conceded a double bogey at the par-3 7th hole to end the day at two over.
“It was pretty tough out there. It was pretty windy and cold and it was tough. Not used to playing in cold conditions and I was just trying to keep my hands warm the whole day,” admitted Shubhankar. “(I will) try to come back strong tomorrow. Need to hit it a bit better tomorrow than today, made a few bad decisions on the course as the winds were swirling a lot and sometimes on the tee when it’s not in an open area, you don’t feel the wind.”
“Made some bad errors on the par threes (he made a double on the par three seventh hole). The course is fantastic, the course is pure and I don’t find any blemish on this course. The winds made it tough for sure but I hope to put on some good scores in the next three days.”
Reavie began his day with a birdie-bogey at 12 & 13. But he kept it clean through the rest of the round, adding a birdie at the 16th before adding three more on his way back into the clubhouse.
Si Woo Kim fought a committed battle, enduring a double bogey at the 2nd hole, his eleventh on the day, to post 69. Fellow Korean, Byeong Hun An posted 70, lying fourth with Rod Pampling, Michael Kim, Ian Poulter, Scott Piercy, Nick Watney and Austin Cook.
