SEOUL, June 26: South Korean Choi Kyung-ju made the perfect start to his homecoming in the Korean Open when he took the first round lead.

Choi, taking time out from his busy US PGA Tour schedule, fired an eight-under-par 64 at Baekahmvista Country Club. He leads by two strokes from compatriots Kang Wook-soon and Kim Tae-bok, Taiwan’s Hong Chia-yuh, Japan’s Katsuhiko Yamazaki and Australian David Gleeson in the Asian PGA Tour event.

Japanese star Shingo Katayama, paired with Choi, made a disappointing competitive debut on Korean soil when he was forced to retire after five holes feeling unwell. He fell ill on Wednesday night and struggled over the opening holes before withdrawing with suspected flu.

The other member of their group, American Corey Pavin, made a solid start with

a 67.

Choi, who began on the 10th tee, was fast out of the blocks and birdied the first three holes.

“I got off to a great start and managed to keep it going. The fans were great out there and really lifted me,” said Choi, who is currently ranked 33rd in the world.

Earlier, in the week the Korean commented how difficult the course is but he had little trouble with the layout today.

“The weather was great and I had a nice feel for the greens. It’s just the start I was looking for,” added Choi, who birdied all four par-fives.

The 33-year-old dropped just one shot on the 17th and netted nine birdies.

Today’s first round marked the official opening of Baekahmvista Country Club

which meant that Choi’s 64 set the course record.

Choi, better known as “KJ”, became the first player from his country to win on the US PGA Tour last year when he triumphed in the Compaq Classic of New Orleans. Later in the season he tasted victory in the Tampa Bay Classic.

He has been in contention in America once again this year finishing joint second in the season-opening Mercedes Championship and equal fifth in the Nissan Open.

Choi has won once before on the Asian PGA Tour, in the 1999 Korean Open, while the man on his shoulder, Kang, is a seven-time winner on the circuit and twice winner of the Order of Merit title.

“It’s always fun playing on a new course especially one as good as this. The greens were excellent. I did not miss any shots out there,” said Kang, who has not won on tour since the 2001 Thailand Masters.

Pavin carded a bogey-free round to stay in the hunt. “I didn’t get into a trouble and played some nice golf,” said the 1995 US Open champion.

Two players in the money on day one were Korea’s Park Jong-hee and Indian Harmeet Kahlon.

Park was the big winner after he aced the par-three 14th and won a Chrysler Grand Cherokee Jeep and 10 million won (approx 8,400 dollars).

Kahlon earned three million won for making the first eagle of the tournament on a par four. Sweden’s Daniel Chopra made a two shortly afterwards on the 13th and thought he had won the booty but he soon heard that Kahlon has narrowly pipped him to the post.

Leading first round (a denotes amateur):

64 — Choi Kyoung-ju (South Korea).

66 — Kim Tae-Bok (South Korea), Kang Wook-Soon (South Korea), David Gleeson (Australia), Hong Chia-Yuh (Taiwan), Katsuhiko Yamazaki (Japan).

67 — Yang Yong-Eun (South Korea), Kang Ji-Man (South Korea), Corey Pavin (US), Chung Jae-Hoon (South Korea), Kevin Na (South Korea), a-Kim Seung-Hyuk (South Korea)

68 — Kyi Hla Han (Myanmar), Choi Gwang-Soo (South Korea), Shin Yong-Jin (South Korea) Cho Do-Hyun (South Korea), Daniel Chopra (Sweden), Kim Young-Woo (South Korea), Aaron Meeks (US).

69 — Lee In-Woo (South Korea), Kim Dae-Sub (South Korea), Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand), Liang Wen-Chong (China), Wang Sung-Ha (South Korea), Choi Sang-Ho (South Korea), Thaworn Wiratchant (Thailand), Kim Wan-Tae (South Korea), Lin Chie-Hsiang (Taipei), Kim Jong-Myung (South Korea), Jun Tae-Hyun (South Korea).—AFP