ISPS HANDA - CHAMPIONSHIP - Day one digest

Everything you need to know from the first round at PGM Ishioka Golf Club.

History was made on day one of the 2023 ISPS HANDA - CHAMPIONSHIP as Japan became the 51st country to host a DP World Tour event.

Here is everything you need to know from the first round at PGM Ishioka Golf Club.

Sullivan and Kim lead the way

Early starters Kim Yeongsu and Andy Sullivan posted 63s to top the leaderboard on seven under par after the first round. South Korean Kim, the KPGA’s 2022 Genesis Point Award winner, kept his card clean, while Sullivan made eight birdies and a bogey.

Tale of two nines for Germishuys

South African Deon Germishuys started from the tenth tee and turned in 36 after making one bogey and eight pars in his first nine holes. But it was a completely different story on his back nine as he carded an eagle, six birdies and a bogey to sign for a roller-coaster 64.

Rugby legend heaps praise on Fox

New Zealand rugby union great and ISPS Handa ambassador Dan Carter joined the commentators in the box on Thursday afternoon and spoke highly of his countryman, World Number 37 Ryan Fox. He said: "I've been lucky enough to meet Ryan on a number of occasions and it just blows me away how humble and down to earth he is. He's had a lot of success over the last couple of years but every time I meet him he's not changed as a person. I know he would have loved to have been here as an ISPS ambassador as well but with him being home with the birth of his second child just around the corner, he unfortunately couldn't be here today. But as a proud Kiwi myself, we have been looking at Ryan and his incredible form over the last couple of years."

Ace chase denied by flagstick

Chan Kim came so close to getting a hole-in-one at the eighth that he clattered the flagstick. But he can perhaps count himself lucky as his tee-shot looked to be racing past the hole had it not hit the pin.

Lawlor aiming to go low in round two

G4D Tour star Brendan Lawlor made history as the first golfer with a disability to play on the DP World Tour at The Belfry in 2020 and he is testing himself against some of the world’s best again this week. After Thursday's opening 81, he said: "This is my second DP World Tour start, I'm learning as I go and I'm really enjoying it. I'm not going to put any pressure on myself tomorrow. I'm just going to go out and shoot a low score and see how many I can beat tomorrow."

With ISPS Handa donating $1,000 for every eagle made during the tournament to the G4D Tour, $18,000 was added to the tally on day one.

Herbert's miracle birdie

How good was this from Lucas Herbert at the 11th? Surely it has to go down as the best birdie of the day.