US golfer Dodge Kemmer grabbed a first round lead with a six-under-par 66 at the Solaire Open in Manila on Thursday, after studying psychology in an effort to keep his emotions in check.
The Asian Tour qualifying school graduate holed six birdies to hold a two-shot advantage over Thailand’s Pawin Ingkhapradit at the inaugural $300,000 Asian Tour event, held at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in the Philippine capital.
Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang, a multiple winner on the tour, and local hope Mars Pucay, were level after posting rounds of 69.
Kemmer, 25, has returned to form after reading psychology books to improve his mental strength.
“I get down on myself pretty easily. I’m trying to stay more level emotionally and that’s easy to do when you are playing well,” he said, according to a release from the organisers.
“It will be interesting to see if I can handle my emotions when I hit some adversity this week.”
Pawin said it helped that the greens were similar to his home course at the Army Golf Club in Thailand.
“I played here last year but I shot an 84 and 78 in the opening two rounds. Today I shot a 68 which shows how much I’ve improved as a golfer,” he said.
Any Pucay, 43, the best-placed of the Philippine golfers, said he was determined to put a disappointing 2012 behind him.
“I’ve played here since my amateur days so let’s hope that I can keep this momentum going,” he said.
Scores after round 1 of the Solaire Open 2013 at the par 72, 7,222-yard Wack Wack Golf and Country Club:
66 – Dodge Kemmer (USA)
68 – Pawin Ingkhapradit (THA)
69 – Lin Wen-tang (TPE), Mars Pucay (PHI)
70 – Matt Jager (AUS), Baek Seuk-Hyun (KOR), Daisuke Kataoka (JPN), Piya Swangarunporn (THA), Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA)
71 – Mo Joong-Kyung (KOR), Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN), Kwanchai Tannin (THA)
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