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Asia takes 3-1 lead at Royal Trophy

Bangkok, Thailand - Sparked by a big win from the all-Thai team of Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng, Asia took a 3-1 lead Friday following the first round of The Royal Trophy. Jaidee and Marksaeng rolled to a 5 & 4 drubbing of Europe's Niclas Fasth and Johan Edfors, leading the Asians to a strong showing in the foursomes format.

Europe got its only victory in the day's first match, a 2 & 1 triumph by Soren Hansen and Paul Lawrie over Ryo Ishikawa and Toru Taniguchi.

In the other two faceoffs, Charlie Wi and Liang Wen-Chong defeated Paul McGinley and Pablo Larrazabal, 2-up, while Hideto Tanihara and S.K. Ho handled Nick Dougherty and Oliver Wilson, 1-up.

The Ryder Cup-style competition -- which was postponed last year when Thailand entered a period of mourning after the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana -- continues Saturday with four fourball matches. It ends Sunday with eight singles matches.

Europe, led this year by Spanish captain Jose Maria Olazabal, won the first two Royal Trophy meetings with Asia before last year's cancellation. And it struck the first blow Friday at Amata Spring Country Club.

Despite trailing 1-down after 13 holes, Hansen and Lawrie bounced back, drawing even when Ishikawa and Taniguchi made a bogey. The European duo then made back-to-back birdies to take the lead.

"We've both played Ryder Cup and you learn to expect the unexpected," Lawrie said of bouncing back. "They holed a few big, big putts just to stay 1-up, but you expect that in these types of team matches. You've just got to keep going and keep grinding away and hope for a break."

Unfortunately for the Europeans, it would be their only victory on the day.

Jaidee and Marksaeng, sparkling in their duties as the anchor team for Asia, steamrolled Fasth and Edfors so badly that it was the second match finished.

Liang and Wi then won the last three holes against McGinley and Larrazabal to give Asia an overall lead, while Tanihara and Ho capitalized on a late collapse by Wilson and Dougherty to give Japanese captain Joe Ozaki's team a 3-1 edge.

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