Nirat sets course record

Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat produced a stunning opening-round 11-under-par 61 to open up a three-shot lead over Argentina’s Rafael Echenique at the TCL Classic in Hainan today.

Nirat, who missed the cut at last week’s Singapore Masters despite shooting a level-par 144, picked up 11 birdies on his way around the Yalong Bay Golf Club course to beat China’s Liang Wenchong’s opening-round 62 last year and claim the course record.