Andrew Dodt claimed a share of the clubhouse lead midway through the opening round of the Hong Kong Open as the Australian looks to get his European Tour career back on track.
The former Avantha Masters winner lost his card after a disappointing 2013 campaign and was unable to get it back at the Qualifying School, but a four under par 66 left him tied with Thailand’s Prom Meesawat at the top of the leaderboard in Fanling.
The 28 year old birdied four of his last five holes, holing a 15 foot putt at the 18th for a pleasing finish.
“I didn’t get much going on early in the round but I made some nice putts coming in,” said Dodt.
“I’ve always liked coming here; I like courses where you’ve got to think about it and plot your way around.
“The last couple of years have been a bit ordinary. Having said that, I’ve played quite well I just haven’t holed the putts. Today I holed the putts.
“Without a card you’ve got to go hard and do your best for every event you get in, so that’s what I’ll be doing over the next three days.”
Big-hitting Meesawat also birdied his final hole, in the 29 year old’s case the tenth, as he produced a seven-birdie, three-bogey effort.
“I’m very happy with that start, it’s a tough course,” said Meesawat, whose only Asian Tour title came back in 2006.
“I’ve been playing well for a couple of weeks and hopefully I'll be do well again this week.”
Qualifying School graduates Stuart Manley and Wade Ormsby and recent South African Open Championship runner-up Jbe Kruger were all one behind after signing for rounds of 67, along with Finland’s Jaakko Makitalo.
On the course, Meesawat’s compatriot Chawalit Plaphol and the Philippines’ Angelo Que raced to four under through seven holes, while defending champion Miguel Angel Jiménez was one under after six.
Plaphol and Que were unable to capitalise on their good starts, but Ireland’s David Higgins joined the leaders on four under with a ten foot putt at the third providing his sixth birdie over the opening 11 holes.
Italy’s Challenge Tour winner Andrea Pavan then made it a four-way tie at the top when he turned in a four under 32.
Higgins birdied the sixth and then knocked in a six footer at the next to reach six under and hold a two shot lead with three holes remaining.
