Richard T. Lee Takes Early Lead At 38th Shinhan Donghae Open In Japan

The first day of the 38th Shinhan Donghae Open was off to a slow start with most participants churning out low scores.

However, Richard T. Lee of Canada capitalized and took the lead with a nine-under-par 62 over at the Koma Country Club in Nara, Japan.

Lee was closely followed by Nitithorn Thippong, who returned with a 63.

Other participants on the first day followed with Tirawat Kaewsiribandit of Thailand carding a 64.

Korean PGA Tour star Siwoo Kim and his compatriot Taeho Kim, Filipino standout Juvic Pagunsan, Japan's Yuki Furukawa, and Americans Seungsu Han and Todd Baek fired 65s.

In 2017, Lee won the same tournament that is considered one of the most prestigious events in South Korea.

The event is now being staged in Japan where a purse worth about $1,050,500 is at stake.

For the 31-year-old Lee, he felt at right home in the tournament although it was being staged in a different country.

He started in the back nine and then made four birdies and five in his second half.

"Like the fairways here, you gotta hit fairways, the rough is up, and the greens are actually playing pretty fast, but I like fast greens. It was a bogey-free round and I felt I took advantage of the par fives pretty well today," Lee said via Asiantour.com.

Lee continues to show good form after coming in tied for second at the International Series Singapore held last month.

"To be honest I have not had any good results in Japan before, but I have always played well in the Shinhan Donghae Open, which has been kind of funny. I think I just like the atmosphere of this tournament and I think they run it very well," Lee stated.

As for Nitithorn, it cannot be denied that he continues to be one of the great talents in the sport.

That was clearly on display on the first day of the 38th Shinhan Donghae Open, one of only two players who tasted victory twice this year.

"I didn't expect to shoot a score like that, but I drove the ball very good – which is key for the course as the next shot is not very far," the 25-year-old golfer said.

This is the first time the prestigious tournament has been played on the Asian Tour in three years because of the pandemic.