Victorian Todd Sinnott has made an impressive start at the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage, sharing the lead with American William Cannon after the opening round at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Golf and Country Club yesterday.

The 24-year-old, who turned Professional in 2015, solidified top spot after round one to finish 8-under 64 alongside Cannon.

Sinnott was strong all day, reeling off seven birdies and overcoming a lone bogey with an eagle on the par-5 18^th hole to draw level with Cannon at the end of play.

Fellow Victorian Richard Green is the next best placed Australian on T11 with a score of 6-under 66, it’s a solid start for the Victorian after an injury interrupted season in 2016 saw him lose his European Tour card, something he’s aiming to reclaim this season.

“I had a very rough year last year with injuries and poor form,” Green said before teeing off his round.

“I looked at a few options and thought it would be good to come here and get my Asian Tour card, I could get into some of the co-sanctioned events and play well on this Tour.

“I heard about the strategic alliance the Asian Tour has with the European Tour and that could be a way of getting back into Europe.

“But even if I don’t do that, I still hope to have some status here on the Asian Tour, it’s important for any professional golfer to have the ability to play in any tournaments, that’s why I’m here and hopefully get back to the standard of golf which I’m used to.”

At 5-under the card, 2016 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Player of the Year Adam Blyth is T19 alongside Nathan Miller and one shot further back is Junseok Lee, amateur Austin Bautista, Jake Higginbottom, Scott Barr and Rick Kulacz.

Marcus Both is five shots back in T70 while Martin Dive and Jack Wilson have work to do in the remaining three rounds and currently sit in T91, six shots back from the leaders.

Even further down the leaderboard are Nathan Buzimkic, Brad Smith, Neven Basic, Jarryd Felton, Unho Park, Adam Groom, and David Gleeson

For full tournament scores, visit www.asiantour.com.