Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia, March 19 - Quincy Quek of Singapore fired two eagles for a five-under-par 67 to pull two shots clear at the halfway stage of the PGM CCM Rahman Putra Championship on Thursday.
The 28-year-old, who married long-time girlfriend Celine in December, leads on 10-under-par 134 while local ace Danny Chia trails in second place following a 68 at the RM200,000 (approximately US$55,400) Asian Development Tour (ADT) event.
Title holder Brett Munson, Shane Smith of the United States, Khor Kheng Hwai of Malaysia, James Byrne of Scotland - winner here in 2013 - and Dominic Foos of Germany, were a further two shots back alongside Thai trio Wisut Artjanawat, Phachara Khongwatmai and Phachara Khongwatmai.
Indonesia's Jordan Irawan was unable to repeat his first round, and with a second round of one over par he saw himself tumble on the leaderboard to a tie for 16th. Meanwhile George Gandranata scored a second consecutive round of even par, but this wasn't enough to advance to the third round, missing the cut by a single stroke.
Quek produced his first eagle when he curved his hybrid-second shot on the third hole before holding his nerve to sink a 25-footer eagle putt at the Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia.
He landed his second eagle of the day on hole 10 when his seven-iron approach shot landed six-feet from the hole.
“The first eagle was good. I didn’t have a view of the green because of the overhanging trees and I had to hit it around the trees and hole a good putt. It was a good way to start my round,” Quek smiled.
The tall Singaporean was pleased with his round of two eagles and two birdies against a single dropped shot but he admits that the par saves were equally satisfying.
“There were a lot of times when I was faced with little five footers which were quite stressful but I managed to sink most of them so that was quite satisfying.
“I left quite a lot of birdie chances at the mouth of the hole. Judging the speed can be a little bit tricky here but overall happy with the way I’m approaching each shot. I’m fairly fortunate that the eagles dropped and gave myself a lot of birdie chances. It is always a good day when you do that,” he explained.
A total of 52 players including amateurs Low Khai Jei and Ervin Chang of Malaysia qualified for the last two rounds as the halfway cut was set at one-under-par 143. Current ADT Order of Merit leader Arie Irawan made an early exit following a disappointing 79.
Leading second round scores:
134 - Quincy QUEK (SIN) 67-67
136 - Danny CHIA (MAS) 68-68
137 - KHOR Kheng Hwai (MAS) 70-67, Wisut ARTJANAWAT (THA) 73-64, James BYRNE (SCO) 67-70, Phachara KHONGWATMAI (THA) 71-66, Dominic FOOS (GER) 69-68, Brett MUNSON (USA) 68-69, Shane SMITH (USA) 68-69, Sutijet KOORATANAPISAN (THA) 68-69
Selected:
140 - Jordan IRAWAN (INA) 67-73
144 - George GANDRANATA (INA) 72-72
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