Li Haotong soars into the lead on a 62

24 June 2022: Li Haotong carded a course-record equalling 62 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the BMW International Open.

Starting his day on the back nine, the 26-year-old from China signed for a flawless ten under par round at Golfclub München Eichenried, with six birdies from the 11th to fifth holes, finishing his round in spectacular style with eagles on the sixth and ninth holes.

His eagle on the last moved him one stroke clear of Daan Huizing of the Netherlands, who signed for a nine under 63, while Nicolai von Dellingshausen is the low German player after carding an eight under par 64 to sit solo third.

Two strokes back in a share of fourth place are six golfers, including 2022 DP World Tour season winners Ryan Fox and Daniel van Tonder.

Maximilian Kieffer provided one of the highlights of the day as he delighted the home crowds with an albatross on the par five 11th hole – the first of his career.

Player Quotes

Li Haotong: “It’s been an incredible day for me. I didn’t expect that because I spent a couple of weeks off in Dubai, which was hot – I didn’t practice much. I had a good start, two birdies on the first three holes. Then turned my back nine, I think I had six one-putts in a row, which helps. Then hit every fair I think.

“It helped me cool down mentally a little bit, low expectation, no expectation, just play golf and enjoy every shot.

“The last few weeks I’ve played solid, I just couldn’t put it all together. Hopefully this week I can use some experience from there and put things together.”

Daan Huizing: “I was hitting it well, good off the tee and I think that’s very important. But I holed some nice putts as well, that gets a round going you convert pretty much every chance you get. Then a couple of par fives – on the green in two – easy birdie there and a couple of iron shots close to the whole, so pretty easy birdies there. It was nice progressing the momentum and forgetting about the score, staying present and executing that one shot as good as you can. I managed to do that really well and this is what came out today.”