10-birdie Wi tears it up in Vietnam

HANOI (AFP) -- South Korea's Charlie Wi plundered 10 birdies on his way to nine-under 62 and the first-round lead at the inaugural, $1.5-million Ho Tram Open in Vietnam on Thursday.

Wi made five birdies in a row on the front nine, and another five on his way back against just one bogey as he stole the limelight from Spanish star Sergio Garcia at Vietnam's richest sport event.

The South Korean leads by two from the Thai pair of teenager Danthai Boonma and the experienced Thaworn Wiratchant, who both went round par-71 The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip course in 64.

America's David Lipsky sits one back on 65, alongside Malaysia's Nicholas Fung and Lin Wen-tang of Taiwan.

A host of others are clustered on 66, including world number 12 Garcia who put himself well in the hunt for his first title of the year.

Wi bagged birdie after birdie, managing the occasionally gusty conditions on day one of the inaugural tournament.

"The good thing about this course is the wind is always constant so after playing a few rounds here, the players will get a feel of the course," Wi said, according to an Asian Tour statement.

Garcia, the biggest name in the field, plugged six birdies against one bogey in a solid start to the event.

Leading scores (par 71):

62 - Charlie Wi (KOR)

64 - Danthai Boonma (THA), Thaworn Wiratchant (THA),

65 - David Lipsky (USA), Nicholas Fung (MAS), Lin Wen-tang (TPE)

66 - Keith Horne (RSA), Jason Knutzon (USA), Juvic Pagunsan (PHI), Rahil Gangjee (IND), Javi Colombo (ESP), Sergio Garcia (ESP), Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND), Shaun Norris (RSA), Himmat Rai (IND), Michael Tran (VIE), Paul Peterson (USA)