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Singapore leader Lam refusing to get carried away at home

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-11-13 17:29

SINGAPORE - Local hope Lam Chih Bing is refusing to think too far ahead after his first round four-under-par 67 gave him an early one-stroke lead in the first round of the Singapore Open on Thursday.

Singapore's Lam Chih Bing takes off his cap after sinking a putt on the ninth green during the first round of the Barclays Singapore Open golf tournament November 13, 2008. [Agencies]

The $5 million event, the richest national open on the Asian Tour, has attracted a host of leading international players, yet the unheralded 31-year-old Lam finds himself looking down on the field after capitalising on a sizzling front nine. Lam started on the 10th hole and reached the turn with a bogey-free, four-under par 31. A bogey on the fifth, his 14th, was the only blemish on his scorecard and he managed to recover that shot with another birdie on the penultimate hole.

"My aim when I came here was just to put together four solid rounds," Lam told reporters after returning to the course to complete his round after a two-hour rain delay.

"Obviously I want to do well this week but I think it is important in the position I am in to not get too far ahead of myself.

"I will still just try and keep to that plan and go out and play four solid rounds."

Lam has yet to win on the Asian Tour in his eight-year career as a professional, although he did win the Mercedes-Benz Indonesian Masters on the ASEAN Tour in May and finished second last week in a Singapore event on the same circuit. "I have been working very hard recently with my coach and I think I am slowly starting to see everything come together," Lam added of his recent improvement in form.

"There's still quite some way to go, I can see that on the range there have been a lot of improvements."

Lam realises playing at home has its advantages but does not feel it is a very decisive factor.

"Playing in your own country is a little overrated," Lam said. "You still have to go out an produce the shots. It does help being able to sleep in my own bed at night and the crowd are a boost.

"I still have to go out there and do my job no matter what... It will just be another day at the office for me tomorrow."