known South Korean Han Min-kyu shot a course-record 62 to snatch the lead on the opening day of the Australian PGA Thursday. Han, who spent five years between the ages of 16 and 21 in the US under Florida-based coach Phil Litson, started his morning round with four successive birdies and made six birdies in his opening eight holes. He made another five on the back nine, with bogeys on the 18th (his ninth hole) and the first (his 10th). The Korean read the greens to perfection on a blisteringly hot day, needing just 21 putts over the 18 holes. “I feel like I'm almost in heaven. I feel like Tiger Woods today. Maybe it's my body but his brain,” the 26-year-old told reporters. Han, one of more than a dozen South Koreans in the tournament, which is part of the fledgling OneAsia tour, finished four strokes clear of local Ryan Haller, who was outright second on 66. Stuart Appleby was among a group of five Australians on 67 while last week's Australian Open winner Adam Scott was a further shot back. Holder Geoff Ogilvy shot a 70, as did Robert Allenby on his return home from South Africa, while American John Daly carded a 71. Scott said that a sub-60 round was not out of the question. “He (Han) wasn't far from it if he shot 62,” Scott said. “Someone could get it done, maybe we could have a 59 – I think I can shoot that.” Van den Berg shoots into lead In Johannesburg, South African Ulrich van den Berg produced putting that matched the scorching Malalane weather to take a one-stroke first-round lead Thursday in the Alfred Dunhill Championship. Van den Berg brushed aside some bad memories of the par-72 Leopard Creek course bordering the world renowned Kruger National Park with a 64 in a tournament co-sanctioned by the South African and European tours. Swede Pelle Edberg was alone in second spot while Italian Edoardo Molinari and South African Titch Moore each fired 66 to share third place in the first event of the 2009-2010 Road to Dubai European order of merit. Former champion Charl Schwartzel is among those on 67, local favorite Ernie Els shot a 68 but defending champion Richard Sterne had to settle for a par 72 as he grapples with a swing problem. Dane Thomas Bjorn, a nine-time winner on the European tour, slumped to a 79 and 2007 Dunhill Championship winner John Bickerton of England fared even worse with a nine-over 81, the second poorest round of the opening day. South African Thomas Aiken aced a 12th-hole tee shot for a fourth career hole in one and admitted that the achievement came despite not aiming at the flag. Aiken carded a one-under 71 as did Englishman David Hewan.
