Thailand's Kiradech shares lead at Thai golf Pro-Am

The 20-year-old Kiradech, a former world junior champion, rolled in five birdies at the Suwan Golf and Country Club to join Knutzon, who played despite being ill, and Lee atop the leaderboard at the 300,000 dollar event.

Filipino Mars Pucay shot the season's first hole in one en route to a 69 to trail in tied fourth place with Singaporean duo Quincy Quek and Lam Chih Bing, Sweden's Richard Karlberg, Korea's Kim Dae-hyun, Australian Rohan Blizard, Thailand's 14-year-old amateur Atiwit Janewattananond and Hideto Tanihara, an eight-time winner in Japan.

Entering the week, the burly Kiradech declared his intention of breaking through for a first title in Asia and a round helped greatly by his big-hitting game pushed him to the forefront.

"I'm very happy. I hit many wedges into the greens and got four birdies from close range. This is my chance to win. I'll try to keep it up as it's my goal to win on the Asian Tour," said Kiradech, who finished 30th on the Order of Merit in his rookie season last year.