Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut set a new course record with a bogey-free 10-under-par 62 to take a two-shot lead after the opening round of the Bangkok Classic at Phoenix Gold Golf Bangkok on Thursday.

Suwannarut’s brilliant round featured eight birdies and an eagle at the par-five 18th hole, capping a flawless day on the South and West Course layout.

The Bangkok Classic, being played from June 25-28 for a prize purse of CNY1.5 million, is co-sanctioned by the China Men’s Professional Golf Tour and the Asian Development Tour and marks the first China Tour event to be staged outside China.

Hong Kong’s HoHo Yue sits alone in second place after a bogey-free eight-under-par 64. Sharing third place on seven-under-par 65 are Thailand’s Nirun Sae-ueng, Mexico’s Roberto Lebrija, England’s Matt Killen and India’s Pukhraj Singh Gill.

A group of seven players share seventh place on six-under-par, including Korea’s Minchan Kim, Indonesia’s Naraajie Ramadhanputra, Hong Kong’s Isaac Lam, Thailand’s Poopirat Klinkesom, Chinese Taipei’s Su Chung-hung, Malaysia’s Khavish Varadan and Singapore’s Gregory Foo.

Suwannarut credited his caddie after producing the lowest round of the day.

“I hit everything good. I just needed to read the greens correctly and my caddie this week has helped me a lot, so credit to him,” said Suwannarut.

Hong Kong’s Hoho Yue pictured in action on June 25, 2026 during Round One of the Bangkok Classic at Phoenix Gold Golf Bangkok.

The Thai said the heat proved more challenging than the wind during the opening round.

“We play a lot of windy golf courses on the Asian Tour, so the wind is okay,” he said. “The thing is not the wind, it’s the heat. Even for Thai people I think it was too hot today, but I made it, so I’m happy.”

Competing in front of a home crowd, Suwannarut said he was enjoying the opportunity to play in Thailand as the Asian Development Tour returned to the country and the China Tour staged its first overseas event.

“I’m happy. I’m happy to stay at my house, eat my mom’s food and know a lot of good players around the course,” he said. “I’m happy for the guys from the ADT to come back to Thailand and I’m enjoying seeing a lot of Chinese players come to play in Thailand also.”

Despite taking the first-round lead, Suwannarut said he plans to stick to the same approach heading into Friday.

“I’m trying to enjoy myself this week,” he said. “It’s kind of my warm-up event for next week’s Queen’s Cup, so I’m just going to enjoy myself, prepare my best and then execute.”

Yue’s bogey-free 64 continued a run of encouraging form for the Hong Kong player.

“It felt great. I always enjoy bogey-free rounds,” said Yue. “I stayed really patient and just stayed in the moment.”

Thailand’s Nirun Sae-ueng pictured in action on June 25, 2026 during Round One of the Bangkok Classic at Phoenix Gold Golf Bangkok.

The 27-year-old, who is a member of both the China Tour and Asian Development Tour, said he was enjoying competing in the strong field assembled for the inaugural event.

“It’s a really strong field with a lot of Asian Tour guys out here this week,” he said. “I’m just sticking with my patient mindset, letting things happen and enjoying the moment.”

Thailand’s Nirun Sae-ueng also remained firmly in contention after a bogey-free 65.

“Today I putted good and my approach shots were very good,” said Nirun. “The driver is important here. If you hit the fairway, you can make the shot to the pin because the greens are very firm.”