Tabuena, Fung and Horne tie for lead

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Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena and Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung shared more than just a room together, returning with matching five-under-par 67s to be tied for the first round lead together with South Africa’s Keith Horne at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters on Thursday.

India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu signed for a 68 to trail the trio by a single shot in outright fourth place while Thailand’s Danthai Boonma is tied for fifth with Chinese Taipei’s Wang Wei-lun and Lin Yung-lung.

Tabeuna, a two-time Asian Tour winner, enjoyed a bogey-free round while Fung almost matched his roommate’s flawless efforts until a wayward shot at his closing ninth hole saw him drop his only shot of the day which denied him the outright lead in the morning.

Tabuena has enjoyed a proud record at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club, finishing second in 2016 and is pleased to have rediscovered his form which has seen him pass his opening test with flying colours.

Fung also had a round to remember as he returned with his best showing by far at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

Horne, who finished tied-second at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2017, has yet to win on the Asian Tour but showed he is ready to contend at a venue which he knows he can excel.

Leading scores after round 1 of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters being played at the par 72, 6923 Yards Tamsui Course course (am - denotes amateur):

67 - Miguel Tabuena (PHI), Nicholas Fung (MAS), Keith Horne (RSA).
68 - Ajeetesh Sandhu (IND).
69 - Wang Wei-lun (TPE), Danthai Boonma (THA), Lin Yung-lung (TPE).
70 - Itthipat Buranatanyarat (THA), Huang Hsiang-hao (TPE), Siddikur Rahman (BAN), Rory Hie (INA), Yeh Wei-tze (TPE), Panuphol Pittayarat (THA), Nitithorn Thippong (THA), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), S. Chikkarangappa (IND).
71 - Tseng Tzu-hsuan (TPE), Prom Meesawat (THA), Kerry Sweeney (USA), Aman Raj (IND), Chen Yi-chian (TPE), Lu Chien-soon (TPE), Lin Wen-tang (TPE), Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA), Lu Wen-teh (TPE), Fan Chiang Hao-chuan (TPE), Danny Chia (MAS), Suradit Yongcharoenchai (THA), Khalin Joshi (IND).
72 - Rashid Khan (IND), Tirawat Kaewsiribandit (THA), Chiragh Kumar (IND), Hsieh Tung-hung (TPE), Micah Lauren Shin (USA), Phachara Khongwatmai (THA), Abhijit Chadha (IND), Viraj Madappa (IND), Ben Campbell (NZL), Adilson Da Silva (BRA), Miguel Carballo (ARG), Scott Vincent (ZIM), Chiu Han-ting (TPE), Ben Leong (MAS).