El cardonal

World Wide Technology Championship: Rico Hoey of the Philippines mastered high winds to fire an opening 5-under 67 for the joint first round lead at the World Wide Technology Championship on Thursday as he seeks a maiden PGA TOUR victory.

The 29-year-old fought his way to seven birdies against two bogeys at El Cardonal at Diamante in Los Cabos, Mexico to share the first day honours with Tom Whitney and Kevin Streelman in the FedExCup Fall tournament. Defending champion Erik van Rooyen of South Africa carded a 68 to lie one back.

With three Fall events remaining, several Asian golfers are battling hard to end the year inside the top-125 of the FedExCup Fall rankings and secure their TOUR cards for next year. Korea’s S.H. Kim, who started the week ranked 122nd, opened with a 78 while countryman S.Y. Noh, who is 181st, returned a 71. China’s Carl Yuan carded a 72 as he seeks to improve on his 131st position.