The Thai golfer, Pavit Tangkamolprasert, made a strong impression at the opening round of the Morocco International Series, presented by Visit Morocco, leading the competition by two strokes over Australian Travis Smith. This scenario echoed their earlier showdown during this year’s Japan Series, highlighting Tangkamolprasert’s prowess on the renowned Red Course at Royal Golf Dar es Salam in Rabat.
Exceptional Performance
The 37-year-old Thai player delivered an outstanding performance, finishing his opening round without a single bogey and recording a score of 65, eight under par. His remarkable start solidified his lead, leaving Smith and South Korean golfer Younghan Song tied for second with scores of 67, six under par. Smith, who currently tops the Asian Tour Order of Merit, has been in formidable form this season after claiming victory in Japan and another win on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
Player Insights
After his round, Smith expressed his fondness for the course, saying, “I love this course and I always feel like I can put up my best score here. The nature of the course requires creativity and shot-making in different ways, which fits my style.” He added that his triumph in Japan significantly boosted his confidence, alleviating pressure and helping him remain calm and competitive in major tournaments.
Conversely, Tangkamolprasert credited hard work and patience for his strong return to form, stating, “Everything went perfectly today. I hadn’t been at my best during recent tournaments, but I kept working and maintained my confidence.” He emphasized the challenge of the Dar es Salam course, noting that accurate ball placement is essential for scoring well and praising his excellent iron shots.
A Comeback for the Ages
American golfer Andy Ogletree, a prominent figure in the International Series with three titles to his name, also made a noticeable comeback by finishing the day with a score of 68, five under par, ending strongly with an eagle and a birdie on the last two holes. “It was a good day; the key was maintaining patience throughout the round,” he remarked. “The course offers scoring opportunities but remains very challenging.”
Tied for fourth with Ogletree were Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, Thai golfer Sadom Kaewkanjana, Danish player Lucas Biergaard, and American Grant Haefner, who navigated the course using borrowed clubs after his own bag was delayed.
Title Defense in Progress
Defending champion Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe began his title defense solidly, finishing the round with a score of 70, three under par. Among local talent, promising amateur Hugo Tromitier delivered the best performance from Moroccan players, recording a score equal to the par of the course with 73 strokes.
The Morocco International Series boasts a prize pool of $2 million and marks its fourth hosting in the Kingdom, showcasing several stars from LIV Golf. Notably, American golfer Bubba Watson, captain of the RangeGoats GC team, scored 69, while South Korean Duyop Moon ended in a tie for eighteenth place with a score of 70.
This tournament not only highlights individual talents but also reinforces Morocco’s growing status as a key destination on the Asian Tour calendar.
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