Wolmer Murillo earned his place at the Volvo China Open by winning the tournament's local pre-qualifier, but the Venezuelan has already made a splash at Topwin Golf and Country Club, carding an opening round 68 after having watched his golf bag roll into a water hazard earlier in the week.
The Venezuelan, who usually plys his trade on the Asian Tour, came through qualifying at the end of February but his week got off to a bad start as his mobile phone and numerous other personal belongings suffered severe water damage during a practice round on Monday.
"My caddie didn't fly until Sunday night and I used a club caddie," he said. "Unfortunately on the 16th he handed me a wedge and left the trolley next to the lake and suddenly it started sliding into the water and my clubs and everything ended up having a swim."
Thankfully, the club very kindly offered to reimburse the Caracas player after he signed his score card.
The 35 year old went on a brilliant birdie-birdie-birdie-eagle run from the fifth on his opening round before he picked up another shot on the 11th. A double-bogey on the 15th stalled his momentum but it was still an excellent effort from Murillo, who is hoping to earn a European Tour card in the future.
"It was beautiful today," he said. "To eagle eight and drop a few was good. I feel good on the golf course. I touched the putter well.
I've been in Asia for a while and I've been trying to get on The European Tour for three years, it's part of the goal so we're here - Wolmer Murillo
"I decided to come to the Asian Tour and work my way through and so far it's been great. I got my Asian Tour card this year and then I qualified to play this one. I'll keep working hard for this one."
The Thailand-based player had an incident in one of his practice rounds earlier in the week as his bag ended up in one of the many water hazards on the Beijing layout.
There are only three holes on the course that do not have water on them, and Murillo's bag ended up in the drink on the par three 16th.
