Rabat: Talented Thai star Pavit Tangkamolprasert, who finished runner-up to Australian Travis Smyth in the International Series Japan earlier this year, reversed the position on the opening day of the US$2 million International Series Morocco on Thursday.
Pavit shot a bogey-free eight-under par 65 to finish two ahead of Smyth, who is tied for second alongside Song Young-Han. Coincidentally, the Korean, who was bogey-free in his 67, was second in the International Series Japan last year, and is looking to win for the first time on the Asian Tour.
On the acclaimed par-73 Red Course of Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat, American Andy Ogletree, one of the most successful players in The International Series with three titles, signalled a return to form with a storming finish that included an eagle-birdie finish in his five-under 68.
He was joined on that score by the in-form Taichi Kho of Hong Kong, runner-up last week on the Japan Golf Tour, Thailand's Sadom Kaewkanjana, Denmark's Lucas Bjerregaard and American Grant Haefner, who played with rented and borrowed clubs after his bag did not turn up at the airport earlier this week.
Defending champion Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe made a determined start to his campaign with a three-under 70. Hugo Trommetter, a promising amateur, was the leading Moroccan player with a round of 73.
Among the various LIV Golf stars in the field, RangeGoats GC captain Bubba Watson shot a four-under 69, while Korea Golf Club's Mun Do-Yeob was tied 18th with a 70.
Pavit looked good in his opening nine, the back nine of the golf course and made four birdies before the turn. He then made five pars on the trot, before scripting a superb finish of four straight birdies.
"I feel like today everything was right for me. I haven't really played well since Namseoul [the GS Caltex Maekyung Open], where I shot a five-under on the first day, and it's been a bit of a struggle over the last few events," said the 37-year-old two-time winner on the Asian Tour.
"I couldn't really putt well. I just kept grinding, kept my chin up, and reminded myself that this is The International Series. It's a big opportunity. So yeah, today everything just came together. On a course like this, with tricky greens and tough pin positions, you need to be in the right spots to have birdie chances, and I hit my irons really well."
Smyth has won twice this year -- The International Series Japan and back home on the PGA Tour of Australasia -- and spent a couple of fruitful weeks on LIV Golf deputising for the injured Paul Casey in Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers GC.
"I just love this golf course. It's a place where I feel I can play well, so I arrive with good vibes straight away," said the current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader.
