Asia lead Europe 3-1 in Royal Trophy

Latest edition of The Royal Trophy, an annual tournament between teams from Asia and Europe, saw Asia take a 3-1 lead.

Team Europe were left to ponder over their mistakes as Asia took a quick lead on the opening day [Getty Images]

Asia lead Europe 3-1 after the opening day of the Royal Trophy in Guangzhou, China, on Friday.

The latest edition of The Royal Trophy, an annual tournament between teams from Asia and Europe, opened with foursomes on Friday and Team Asia’s opening pair, Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, took an early lead against the European pair of Stephen Gallacher and Paul Lawrie, with a birdie on the first hole.

Jaidee, ranked 46th in the world, drained a birdie putt on the fifth hole to make it 2-0 for his team.

Aphibarnrat, who earlier this month wrapped up the Asian Order of Merit, then showed his class when he sank this eagle putt on the 14th to make it 4-0 for the Asian team.

In the second match-up, the Japanese pair Ryo Ishikawa and Hiroyuki Fujita, seemed to be in trouble in the first hole when Ishikawa’s tee shot landed in the middle of the bushes.

But the Asians recovered well from there to make it 2-0 for their side.

The Korean pair of Kim Kyung-Tae and Kim Hyung-Sung beat Thorbjorn Olesen and Alvaro Quiros 4-2 to make it 3-0 before Team Europe earned a crucial point when Englishmen Marc Warren and David Howells beat Chinese pairing of Liang Wen-Chong and Wu Ashun.

The teams play four-ball format on Saturday.

Source: AP