November 2, 2017: Former PGA TOUR player David Lutterus of Australia eagled the par-5 18th to post a 6-under-par 64 and hold a one-stroke lead after the first round of the PGA TOUR-China’s Clearwater Bay Open at The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club.

Chinese amateur Cheng Jin, who won the 2015 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at this venue, also eagled 18 to lie one behind Lutterus and join New Zealander Campbell Rawson on 5-under, two ahead of Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul and Josh Munn of New Zealand.

Yuxin Lin, 17, won the Asia-Pacific Amateur in Wellington, New Zealand, on Sunday to earn invitations to the Masters Tournament and The Open Championship next year. Lin followed up with a 68 to share sixth place with four others.

American Jon McLean recorded the first hole-in-one of the event when he aced the 164-yard 14th hole on his way to a 73.

The 6-foot 5-inch Lutterus – who also had seven birdies and three bogeys – played all but four events on the first three years of PGA TOUR-China and said he was happy to be back in Hong Kong, having tied for fifth at the 2016 Clearwater Bay Open.

“I’ve played well at this place, and I love this course. The eagle was a little unexpected. I can’t remember my last eagle, so it was a great way to finish. It can be a very tough tee shot on 18, but the wind died down a little bit so I got lucky,” said the Adelaide-born Lutterus, who played on the PGA TOUR in 2008 and 2010 and has lived in the U.S. for seven of the last 10 years.

“It was a good day. My driving was good, and my short game was good but my irons were terrible, actually. But if you drive it well and putt well, you’re usually going to score well,” Lutterus explained.

Jin played with Lin and Hong Kong No. 1 Jason Hak (75), two groups behind Lutterus, and he drew close to the leader when he also eagled the par-5 18th.

The 19-year-old – who remains the only amateur to win on PGA TOUR-China – is on a good run of form after finishing fifth in last week’s Asia-Pacific Amateur, two years after winning the title at Clearwater Bay to earn a place in the 2016 Masters.

“Five-under, I’ll take it. I just like this place. I putted really well,” said Jin, who is a sophomore at the University of Southern California.

Jin was even par after an up-and-down first nine. He then birdied 11 and had a hat-trick of birdies from 13 before a bogey-eagle finish.

“I think 13 was my turning point. I hit it left and thought I might have lost it. It barely stayed in, and it was a really bad lie, but I hit a good shot to 10 feet, made the putt and went birdie-birdie after that.

“Hole 17 was a little disappointing, but 18 was good. I didn’t start that hot, but the back nine was good. I’m happy,” he added.

Jin was also full of praise for his young compatriot, who wasn’t as hot on the greens but showed his power off the tee.

“Yuxin’s playing great,” Jin said. “He didn’t make any putts, and he still shot 2-under. Last time I played with him, I was outdriving him and now he’s hitting it past me. It’s amazing how he improved. I’m happy for him.”

Jin couldn’t remember exactly when the pair last played a competitive round together, but Lin had no problem with his memory.

“Two years in Nomura Cup,” Lin said. “It’s a different game now. He hits it far – not as far as me, but he hits it far, for sure. Cheng putted pretty well today, so I need to ask him how he made all the putts.

“This course definitely fits me, and I had tonnes of birdie chances. I’m hitting it really well, same as last week. My short game is actually pretty good as well. It’s just the putting.”

Lin, who is home-schooled in Beijing, will play in the Masters in five months’ time following his life-changing victory last week but is currently focused on bettering his tie for 59th in last year’s Clearwater Bay Open when he finished as top amateur.

“It’s really exciting at the moment. It’s such an honour to make it to the Masters. Not a lot of golfers get to play the Masters, even some guys on Tour, so I’m just really proud of myself and I really want to enjoy the process.”

On both Saturday and Sunday (12.30-3.30 p.m.), the third and fourth rounds of the Clearwater Bay Open will be broadcast live in Hong Kong on Now Sports 3 (Channel 684) and the Travel Channel in China and will stream live on Sina.com and iQiyi.com.

Live scoring: http://pgatourserieschina.com/…/sch…/the-clearwater-bay-open

Information and photo source : i3 Sports / Clearwater Bay Open