Amateur golfer leads national professional tournament

Phong, a 37-year-old amateur golfer, had 69 strokes, scored five birdies and two bogeys.

"My swings were not good but this is a result beyond my expectations," Phong said.

He started playing golf in 2016, with a current handicap of 3.0. In 2019, he participated in the pro tour Lexus Challenge in Hue, but didn't make it past the qualifiers.

Vietnam National Championship (VNC) is the second tournament hosted by Vietnam Golf Association (VGA) this year. The first event, Lexus Challenge, concluded in March with 15-year-old golfer Nguyen Anh Minh winning the title. This marked the first time an amateur won a pro golf tour in Vietnam. Minh is also competing in the VNC and peaking second in the first round.

The VNC has the participation of 138 golfers, half of them amateurs. The prize pool for this tournament is VND1.2 billion ($52,260), of which VND200 million are for the women's table (15 amateurs and four pros).

Doan Xuan Khue Minh, member of the national golf team for SEA Games 31, tops the women's table.