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Josh Ball

Former Asian Tour professional Pierre-Henri Soero rolled back the years, and social media influencer Luke Kwon made the most of a rare foray into the professional ranks, as the International Series got back under way in Thailand on Thursday.
On a perfect day at Black Mountain Golf Club, just three shots separated the first 33 players, with four of them, Soero included, top of the heap on eight-under-par.
And only a bogey on nine, his last hole of the day, stopped him grabbing the outright lead. As it was, the American finished the day sharing that spot with Thailand’s CharngTai Sudsom, Liu Yanwei from China and Australian Todd Sinnott, who all shot matching 64s.
“It was a good bogey actually, I was in the rough, a lot can happen, so I am OK with that,” the 41-year-old Soero said. “Golf is about muscle memory, I used to grind six hours a day practicing, so it’s still there.”
While Soero is enjoying a “vacation with my wife”, first round playing partners CharngTai and Liu are battling to retain their cards for next season.

At the other end of the 33-strong pack is Kwon – a former professional turned YouTuber who won the PGA Tour’s Creator Classic in August – who fired a bogey-free 67 to finish on five-under. Kwon is filming as he goes on his Asian Tour debut, and said there had been “no nerves whatsoever”.
Further down the field, Leon D’Souza had an up and down start to his Black Mountain Championship, carding an even-par 72, in a round that included two birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey in this first six holes.
The Hongkonger found just four greens in regulation on the front nine, but missed only one thereafter, and a birdie at the par-4 17th was his third coming home.
Taichi Kho, meanwhile, withdrew from the event before the first round, and has also opted to skip next week’s International Series Thailand event as he continues to recover from a back injury.
Kho was forced to retire midway through the first stage of DP World Tour Q-School in Sweden last month after suffering “seriously intense pain”, an injury that subsequently kept him out of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the Macau Open.
“I’m really close to playing again but just need a bit more time to stop the flare ups from recurring,” Kho said. “I was able to play practice rounds the past couple of weeks to try and get back asap, but was just a bit optimistic and the body has not fully recovered yet.”
The danger for Kho is that he will lose ground in the race to finish inside the top 30 of the series order of merit. Presently ranked 27th, a place in the LIV Golf promotion event later this year is on the line.
While Kho’s return will have to wait, compatriots Matthew Cheung and Isaac Lam were in action in the Hangzhou Open, a China Tour event co-sanctioned by the European circuit as part of its Challenge Tour.
The pair shot matching three-under 68s to sit in a tie for 20th after the first round at West Lake Golf Club.
Also in the field was China’s Ding Wenyi, who was making his professional debut on a sponsor’s invite. This year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur champion has earned himself a full card for next season on the DP World Tour after finishing top of its Global Amateur Pathway Ranking.
The 19-year-old said he was “excited to start my journey as a professional”, and began life with a 66, to end the day three shots back from leader Conor Purcell, who carded an eight-under 63.


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Golf

Pierre-Henri Soero among early leaders at International Series event after shooting 8-under 64, Creator Classic winner Luke Kwon shoots 67


Pierre-Henri Soero among early leaders at International Series event after shooting 8-under 64, Creator Classic winner Luke Kwon shoots 67.


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Asian Tour: CrossFit Games star Soero, YouTuber Kwon make fast starts in Thailand

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Pierre-Henri Soero among early leaders at International Series event after shooting 8-under 64, Creator Classic winner Luke Kwon shoots 67

Pierre-Henri Soero among early leaders at International Series event after shooting 8-under 64, Creator Classic winner Luke Kwon shoots 67