Scott Jamieson hopes to prove he can last the distance after an opening 64 put him one shot behind first round leader Panuphol Pittayarat in The Championship at Laguna National.
The Scot’s maiden European Tour win came at last year’s Nelson Mandela Championship, which was shortened to 36 holes because of bad weather.
Ironically lightning caused an hour delay before play in Singapore this morning, but Jamieson carded nine birdies against a single bogey to be part of a five-way tie for second.
And the 30 year old admits a second victory over 72 holes would silence any doubters as to the World Number 155’s credentials.
“You want to win every week but it would be nice if the next one was over four rounds, and if anyone had any questions then it would have answered them,” he said.
“I don’t feel like that myself, given that we knew it was only going to be a two round event and I won in a play-off. But to win over four rounds would be nice."
The 21 year old Thai Pittayarat got off to a flyer with nine birdies in a flawless 63, despite coming into the event on the back of four missed cuts on the co-sanctioning Asian Tour.
Jamieson also had nine birdies in his round, but a dropped shot at the 16th – his seventh – cost him a share of top spot and he settled for tied second alongside American David Lipsky, Korean Kim Byung-jun and home favourite Quincy Quek.
The highlight of the Scot’s round came at the daunting par three 17th, where he chipped in from the bunker for an unlikely gain.
“I’ve been hitting the ball well the last couple of weeks, so it was nice to get a round where it all came together,” added Jamieson.
“There was just the one mistake with the three-putt on 16, but it was pretty far away and pace putting is always difficult in Asia with the grain. It’s not what someone from Scotland is used to.
“There’s not much wind out there and apparently there has been a drought here so there is not much rough either. You can still control the ball when you don’t hit the fairway, so I think everyone will have a lot of looks at birdies; the greens a rolling perfectly too.
“I’ve been hitting the ball really well since we came out to Asia but today was the first time I really capitalised on that.
“Golfers strive for perfection so it is always going to feel like you left something out there, but I holed some nice putts so I’m pleased.”
Pittayarat’s round featured an approach to a foot at the 11th and a 20 foot putt to finish at the 18th.
“I am very happy with how I played today,” he said. “I didn’t see it coming but it did come.
“I’m feeling good about my game right now. I was just trying to hit straight out there. I managed to hole a lot of putts and a lot of them were unexpected.”
Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg and Chile's Felipe Aguilar were amongst those tied for sixth on seven under, while defending champion Brett Rumford and France’s Alex Levy, the winner in China last week, both signed for two under par rounds of 70.
