Kuala Lumpur, 30 October 2012 - Twenty-three top junior golfers from the ASEAN region were honoured at the CIMB Junior Golf Development Programme player recognition ceremony last week.
Datuk Seri Nazir Razak, group chief executive of CIMB Group, presented certificates of achievement to the top juniors in this year’s CIMB Junior Golf Development Programme.
The juniors were honoured for their numerous successes in local, regional and international tournaments.
Among the recipients were Thailand’s Puwit Anupansuebsai, who won the World Masters of Junior Golf Tournament 2012 in the Boys 11-12 years category; Benyapa Niphatsophon, also of Thailand, winner of the Callaway Junior World Golf Championship 2012 in the girls’ 15-17 age category; and Indonesia’s Jordan Surya Irawan, the youngest participant at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters 2012. All three were successful at the Enjoy Jakarta World Junior Golf Championship 2012 (EJWJGC), held last June at Pantai Indah Kapuk course, as well.
Ten Malaysian juniors were also among the recipients of the certificates of achievement, including Sarfina Seretharan (pic), Loy Hee Ying, Natasha Andrea Oon, Albright Chong, Ervin Chang and Paul San.
Raja Noorma Othman, the chief executive officer of CIMB Foundation, said: “When we assumed the title sponsorship of the CIMB Classic in 2010, we launched the CIMB Junior Golf Development Programme to inspire a generation of juniors to pursue their dreams of playing professional golf at the highest level.
“Judging from the quality of achievements that has been accomplished by these junior golfers today, I firmly believe that we are moving rapidly towards seeing these juniors becoming top professionals,” she said.
CIMB Foundation also donated RM50,000 to the IJN Foundation and it will go towards providing cardiac treatment for underprivileged children.
The idea of funding medical treatment for children was inspired by an essay penned by Indonesia’s Paquita Gadin, who had written about her vision of providing free medical treatment to needy children when she reaches the top echelons of professional golf.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
George Gandranata Just Misses Podium As Fung Wins Palembang Musi Championship
Palembang, October 27 - Malaysian Nicholas Fung ended a frustrating run of second place finishes by winning the US$150,000 Palembang Musi Championship today.
He fired a final round four-under-par 68 to beat Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul by two at Palembang Golf Club.
Gunn came in with a 70 in the ASEAN PGA Tour’s richest event of the season.
The result was retribution for Fung as he was beaten by his Thai opponent in a sudden-death play-off in the previous ASEAN PGA Tour event, the Singha Esan Open in August.
Antonio Lascuna from the Philippines claimed third place after shooting a 66. He finished two shots behind Gunn.
George Gandranata ended as the leading Indonesian in fourth after returning 69.
The result meant Fung, Gunn and Filipino Jay Bayron qualify for the US$6 million Barclays Singapore Open in two weeks as they are the leading three players from the money list.
“This is fantastic,” said Fung, who finished 18 under for the tournament.
“Gunn has been playing so well so it gives me a lot of confidence. Now I get to play in the Barclays Singapore Open. It is my dream to play with Phil Mickelson.”
Fung was two shots behind playing partner Gunn at the turn but he stormed ahead with a birdie on 11 and an eagle on the par-five 14th.
While the Malaysian was charging Gunn bogeyed the 13th to see the title slip away.
Said Gunn: “It was raining for a few holes on the back nine and that really put me off. I am not used to it. It was my first time playing in rain in a tournament. I am not too disappointed as I get to play in the Singapore Open.”
Fung claimed a cheque for US$24,050, to move to the top of the Merit list, while Gunn earned US$16,465.
Fung, aged 22, also won the PGM Negeri Sembilan Classic on the Malaysian local circuit last week and will thus head to Singapore brimming with confidence.
He won the Mercedes-Benz Masters Vietnam in 2010, which was his rookie year, and following that he finished runner-up on four occasions including in last year’s Palembang Musi Championship.
Indonesia’s Andik Mauluddin, Mardan Mamat from Singapore, and Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan and Varut Chomchalam tied for fifth.
Defending champion Wisut Artjanawat from Thailand returned a 71 to finished tied for ninth.
Indonesia's top golfer Rory Hie kept improving his score and managed to finish just outside the top ten after carding a 67.
The next event on the ASEAN PGA Tour is the US$100,000 Gowa Padivalley Classic in Makassar, Indonesia.
The tournament is the penultimate event of the season and will be played at Padivalley Golf Club.
Leading final round scores (Par 72):
270 - Nicholas Fung (MAS) 68 68 66 68
272 - Gunn Charoenkul (THA) 65 70 67 70
274 - Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 69 69 70 66
277 - George Gandranata (INA) 67 74 67 69
279 - Andik Mauluddin (INA) 69 70 74 68, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 72 70 69 68, Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA) 71 72 66 70, Varut Chomchalam (THA) 72 69 67 71
281 - Andi Yatmo (INA) 70 71 72 68, Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 71 67 72 71
282 - Rory Hie (INA) 75 71 69 67, Clyde Mondilla (PHI) 73 70 70 69, S. Murthy (MAS) 73 70 69 70, S Siva Chandran (MAS) 68 75 69 70, Jay Bayron (PHI) 72 71 67 72, Annop Tangkamolprasert (THA) 67 70 72 73
283 - Piya Swangarunporn (THA) 68 69 69 77
He fired a final round four-under-par 68 to beat Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul by two at Palembang Golf Club.
Gunn came in with a 70 in the ASEAN PGA Tour’s richest event of the season.
The result was retribution for Fung as he was beaten by his Thai opponent in a sudden-death play-off in the previous ASEAN PGA Tour event, the Singha Esan Open in August.
Antonio Lascuna from the Philippines claimed third place after shooting a 66. He finished two shots behind Gunn.
George Gandranata ended as the leading Indonesian in fourth after returning 69.
The result meant Fung, Gunn and Filipino Jay Bayron qualify for the US$6 million Barclays Singapore Open in two weeks as they are the leading three players from the money list.
“This is fantastic,” said Fung, who finished 18 under for the tournament.
“Gunn has been playing so well so it gives me a lot of confidence. Now I get to play in the Barclays Singapore Open. It is my dream to play with Phil Mickelson.”
Fung was two shots behind playing partner Gunn at the turn but he stormed ahead with a birdie on 11 and an eagle on the par-five 14th.
While the Malaysian was charging Gunn bogeyed the 13th to see the title slip away.
Said Gunn: “It was raining for a few holes on the back nine and that really put me off. I am not used to it. It was my first time playing in rain in a tournament. I am not too disappointed as I get to play in the Singapore Open.”
Fung claimed a cheque for US$24,050, to move to the top of the Merit list, while Gunn earned US$16,465.
Fung, aged 22, also won the PGM Negeri Sembilan Classic on the Malaysian local circuit last week and will thus head to Singapore brimming with confidence.
He won the Mercedes-Benz Masters Vietnam in 2010, which was his rookie year, and following that he finished runner-up on four occasions including in last year’s Palembang Musi Championship.
Indonesia’s Andik Mauluddin, Mardan Mamat from Singapore, and Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan and Varut Chomchalam tied for fifth.
Defending champion Wisut Artjanawat from Thailand returned a 71 to finished tied for ninth.
Indonesia's top golfer Rory Hie kept improving his score and managed to finish just outside the top ten after carding a 67.
The next event on the ASEAN PGA Tour is the US$100,000 Gowa Padivalley Classic in Makassar, Indonesia.
The tournament is the penultimate event of the season and will be played at Padivalley Golf Club.
Leading final round scores (Par 72):
270 - Nicholas Fung (MAS) 68 68 66 68
272 - Gunn Charoenkul (THA) 65 70 67 70
274 - Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 69 69 70 66
277 - George Gandranata (INA) 67 74 67 69
279 - Andik Mauluddin (INA) 69 70 74 68, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 72 70 69 68, Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA) 71 72 66 70, Varut Chomchalam (THA) 72 69 67 71
281 - Andi Yatmo (INA) 70 71 72 68, Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 71 67 72 71
282 - Rory Hie (INA) 75 71 69 67, Clyde Mondilla (PHI) 73 70 70 69, S. Murthy (MAS) 73 70 69 70, S Siva Chandran (MAS) 68 75 69 70, Jay Bayron (PHI) 72 71 67 72, Annop Tangkamolprasert (THA) 67 70 72 73
283 - Piya Swangarunporn (THA) 68 69 69 77
Friday, October 26, 2012
George Gandranata Aiming For Podium At Palembang Musi Championship
Palembang, October 26 - Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul and Nicholas Fung from Malaysia moved into a share of the lead in the US$150,000 Palembang Musi Championship today to set up their second successive final day face off.
Gunn beat Fung in a sudden-death play-off in the previous ASEAN PGA Tour event, the Singha Esan Open in August, and with a four shot lead over the rest of the field they are set for another exciting showdown.
The Thai golfer started the day with a one shot lead over Fung at Palembang Golf Club and shot a five-under-par 67.
Fung caught him with a 66 to leave them tied on 14-under-par 202.
“I am a bit disappointed as I made a great eagle on 14 to lead after holing a 25 yard chip shot but then I three putted the next for a bogey,” said 20-year-old Gunn.
“Fung came at me with a lot of birdies today so I am happy I responded well.”
His victory in the Singha Esan Open was his first win since turning professional last year. He claimed an event last week on the local Thai tour, also in a play-off, to quickly establish himself as one of his country’s most exciting young players.
Fung finished second here last year finishing five shots behind Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat.
“Let’s start the play-off now,” joked Fung.
Like Gunn he has triumphed once before on the ASEAN PGA Tour, in the 2010 Mercedes-Benz Masters Vietnam, and with a host of other top finishes he is hungry for victory.
“It will be tough to win though as Gunn is playing really well but I really want to catch him this time,” added Fung.
Both players also have an eye on qualification for the Barclays Singapore Open from November 8 to 11.
The leading three players on the ASEAN PGA Order of Merit after this event make it through to the US$6 million tournament at Sentosa Golf Club.
Gunn is presently in third place on the Merit list while Fung is fifth, although in third qualification spot as two players above him have gained entry via other channels.
However with first place worth US$24,050, second US$16,465 and third US$9,145.50 much could change in the final round.
Thailand’s Piya Swangarunporn, 19th on the Merit list and looking leapfrog dozens of players, is in outright third place after shooting 69.
Two strokes further back are Thailand’s Varut Chomchalam (67), Antonio Lascuna (70) from the Philippines, and Indonesian George Gandranata (67) who recovered from a poor showing yesterday to get back in contention for a podium finish.
Defending champion Wisut fired a 72 and is eight behind the leaders.
He is a stroke ahead of Singapore’s Mardan Mamat who carded a 69.
“I have been hitting the ball really well but just can’t hole a putt. It is a short course so that is why scoring is low but you still need to get the putter working,” said the 44-year-old, who won the Philippine Open earlier this year.
Indonesia's number one player Rory Hie (69) continued his charge and climbed further to a share of 20th, just two shots behind countrymen Andi Yatmo (72) and Andik Mauluddin (74).
Leading third round scores (Par 72):
202 Nicholas Fung (MAS) 68 68 66, Gunn Charoenkul (THA) 65 70 67
206 Piya Swangarunporn (THA) 68 69 69
208 Varut Chomchalam (THA) 72 69 67, George Gandranata (INA) 67 74 67, Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 69 69 70
209 Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA) 71 72 66, Annop Tangkamolprasert (THA) 67 70 72
210 Jay Bayron (PHI) 72 71 67, Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 71 67 72
211 Mardan Mamat (SIN) 72 70 69
212 S Siva Chandran (MAS) 68 75 69, S. Murthy (MAS) 73 70 69, Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 67 74 71
213 Mohd Rashid Ismail (MAS) 75 70 68, Clyde Mondilla (PHI) 73 70 70, Andi Yatmo (INA) 70 71 72, Andik Mauluddin (INA) 69 70 74
214 Somkiat Srisanga (THA) 72 72 70
215 Rory Hie (INA) 75 71 69, Mohd Hafiy Afiq Suhaili (MAS) 72 70 73
Gunn beat Fung in a sudden-death play-off in the previous ASEAN PGA Tour event, the Singha Esan Open in August, and with a four shot lead over the rest of the field they are set for another exciting showdown.
The Thai golfer started the day with a one shot lead over Fung at Palembang Golf Club and shot a five-under-par 67.
Fung caught him with a 66 to leave them tied on 14-under-par 202.
“I am a bit disappointed as I made a great eagle on 14 to lead after holing a 25 yard chip shot but then I three putted the next for a bogey,” said 20-year-old Gunn.
“Fung came at me with a lot of birdies today so I am happy I responded well.”
His victory in the Singha Esan Open was his first win since turning professional last year. He claimed an event last week on the local Thai tour, also in a play-off, to quickly establish himself as one of his country’s most exciting young players.
Fung finished second here last year finishing five shots behind Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat.
“Let’s start the play-off now,” joked Fung.
Like Gunn he has triumphed once before on the ASEAN PGA Tour, in the 2010 Mercedes-Benz Masters Vietnam, and with a host of other top finishes he is hungry for victory.
“It will be tough to win though as Gunn is playing really well but I really want to catch him this time,” added Fung.
Both players also have an eye on qualification for the Barclays Singapore Open from November 8 to 11.
The leading three players on the ASEAN PGA Order of Merit after this event make it through to the US$6 million tournament at Sentosa Golf Club.
Gunn is presently in third place on the Merit list while Fung is fifth, although in third qualification spot as two players above him have gained entry via other channels.
However with first place worth US$24,050, second US$16,465 and third US$9,145.50 much could change in the final round.
Thailand’s Piya Swangarunporn, 19th on the Merit list and looking leapfrog dozens of players, is in outright third place after shooting 69.
Two strokes further back are Thailand’s Varut Chomchalam (67), Antonio Lascuna (70) from the Philippines, and Indonesian George Gandranata (67) who recovered from a poor showing yesterday to get back in contention for a podium finish.
Defending champion Wisut fired a 72 and is eight behind the leaders.
He is a stroke ahead of Singapore’s Mardan Mamat who carded a 69.
“I have been hitting the ball really well but just can’t hole a putt. It is a short course so that is why scoring is low but you still need to get the putter working,” said the 44-year-old, who won the Philippine Open earlier this year.
Indonesia's number one player Rory Hie (69) continued his charge and climbed further to a share of 20th, just two shots behind countrymen Andi Yatmo (72) and Andik Mauluddin (74).
Leading third round scores (Par 72):
202 Nicholas Fung (MAS) 68 68 66, Gunn Charoenkul (THA) 65 70 67
206 Piya Swangarunporn (THA) 68 69 69
208 Varut Chomchalam (THA) 72 69 67, George Gandranata (INA) 67 74 67, Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 69 69 70
209 Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA) 71 72 66, Annop Tangkamolprasert (THA) 67 70 72
210 Jay Bayron (PHI) 72 71 67, Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 71 67 72
211 Mardan Mamat (SIN) 72 70 69
212 S Siva Chandran (MAS) 68 75 69, S. Murthy (MAS) 73 70 69, Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 67 74 71
213 Mohd Rashid Ismail (MAS) 75 70 68, Clyde Mondilla (PHI) 73 70 70, Andi Yatmo (INA) 70 71 72, Andik Mauluddin (INA) 69 70 74
214 Somkiat Srisanga (THA) 72 72 70
215 Rory Hie (INA) 75 71 69, Mohd Hafiy Afiq Suhaili (MAS) 72 70 73
Indonesians Out-Gunn-ed At Palembang Musi Championship
Palembang, October 25 - Gunn Charoenkul stayed in front at the halfway mark of the Palembang Musi Championship displaying a calm coolness that has seen him emerge as one of the stars on the ASEAN PGA Tour.
The Thai carded a two-under-par 70 at Palembang Golf Club to lead the US$150,000 event on nine-under-par 135.
Malaysian Nicholas Fung, second in this event last year, carded a 68 to lie one stroke off the lead.
Thailand’s Piya Swangarunporn and Annop Tangkamolprasert finished a stroke further back after returning rounds of 69 and 70 respectively.
In August, Gunn burst through with a brilliant wire-to-wire victory in the Singha Esan Open on the ASEAN PGA Tour.
It was the 20-year-old’s first win as a professional and he did it by beating Fung in a sudden-death play-off.
On his final hole today he holed a 25-foot birdie putt to once again squeeze ahead of his Malaysian opponent.
“I really didn’t expect to win in Esan. This year I just wanted to work on keeping my Tour card. Winning was a real shock but also a great learning experience,” said Gunn, whose uncle “Tu” is caddying for him.
Gunn, who claimed a title on the Thai PGA Tour last week also in a playoff, has an eye on the top prize and qualification for the Barclays Singapore Open in two weeks.
The leading three players on the Order of Merit after this event qualify for the US$6 million event at Sentosa Golf Club.
Gunn is presently in third place on the Merit list but with first place worth US$24,050, second US$16,465 and third US$9,145.50, a host of players are in with a chance.
“This is going to be a tough last two rounds, perhaps more than Esan, because we are chasing a place in the Barclays Singapore Open. I am going to have to keep my head down and stick with the game. However I don’t like to put too much pressure on myself,” added Gunn.
Fung returned a bogey free round to give himself a chance of turning the tables on Gunn.
“I feel very comfortable on this course. I am playing well and feel I have a great chance this week,” said Fung.
The Malaysian is fifth on the Merit list but with two players above him gaining entry into the Singapore Open via other channels he presently holds the third qualifying spot.
He said: “There is a lot at stake but this is what we like to play for. This is what makes it exciting”.
Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat who won this tournament last year by five strokes from Fung made his move by firing a 67.
Wisut, who went on to win the Order of Merit title, moved to six under along with Filipino Antonio Lascuna, who carded a 69.
Singapore’s Mardan Mamat fired a 70 to lie at two under for the tournament. The 44-year-old triumphed in the Philippine Open in February and PGM-CCM Impian Masters in Malaysia in March and will be expected to make a challenge over the next two days.
George Gandranata couldn't repeat the good round from yesterday and dropped to a share of ninth after a round of 74 today. He was surpassed by countrymen Junaidi Ibrahim and Andik Mauluddin who both carded a 70 today and now share 7th place together.
Meanwhile Indonesia's no 1 golfer Rory Hie was able to improve somewhat from his 75 yesterday with a 71 today, but still is in just a share of 39th position at the midpoint.
Leading second round scores (Par 72):
135 Gunn Charoenkul (THA) 65 70
136 Nicholas Fung (MAS) 68 68
137 Piya Swangarunporn (THA) 68 69, Annop Tangkamolprasert (THA) 67 70
138 Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 69 69, Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 71 67
139 Junaidi Ibrahim (INA) 69 70, Andik Mauluddin (INA) 69 70
141 Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 67 74, Pawin Ingkhapradit (THA) 66 75, Andi Yatmo (INA)70 71, George Gandranata (INA) 67 74, Varut Chomchalam (THA) 72 69
142 Mardan Mamat (SIN) 72 70, Mohd Hafiy Afiq Suhaili (MAS) 72 70
Selected:
144 Maan Nasim (INA) 73 71, Hendri Nasim (INA) 72 72, Benny Kasiadi (INA) 72 72
145 Hermawan Indra (INA) 70 75, Edi Sembiring (INA) 76 69, Ilyasyak (INA) 73 72
146 Heri Ki (INA) 71 75, Johannes Dermawan (INA) 74 72, Rory Hie (INA) 75 71
The Thai carded a two-under-par 70 at Palembang Golf Club to lead the US$150,000 event on nine-under-par 135.
Malaysian Nicholas Fung, second in this event last year, carded a 68 to lie one stroke off the lead.
Thailand’s Piya Swangarunporn and Annop Tangkamolprasert finished a stroke further back after returning rounds of 69 and 70 respectively.
In August, Gunn burst through with a brilliant wire-to-wire victory in the Singha Esan Open on the ASEAN PGA Tour.
It was the 20-year-old’s first win as a professional and he did it by beating Fung in a sudden-death play-off.
On his final hole today he holed a 25-foot birdie putt to once again squeeze ahead of his Malaysian opponent.
“I really didn’t expect to win in Esan. This year I just wanted to work on keeping my Tour card. Winning was a real shock but also a great learning experience,” said Gunn, whose uncle “Tu” is caddying for him.
Gunn, who claimed a title on the Thai PGA Tour last week also in a playoff, has an eye on the top prize and qualification for the Barclays Singapore Open in two weeks.
The leading three players on the Order of Merit after this event qualify for the US$6 million event at Sentosa Golf Club.
Gunn is presently in third place on the Merit list but with first place worth US$24,050, second US$16,465 and third US$9,145.50, a host of players are in with a chance.
“This is going to be a tough last two rounds, perhaps more than Esan, because we are chasing a place in the Barclays Singapore Open. I am going to have to keep my head down and stick with the game. However I don’t like to put too much pressure on myself,” added Gunn.
Fung returned a bogey free round to give himself a chance of turning the tables on Gunn.
“I feel very comfortable on this course. I am playing well and feel I have a great chance this week,” said Fung.
The Malaysian is fifth on the Merit list but with two players above him gaining entry into the Singapore Open via other channels he presently holds the third qualifying spot.
He said: “There is a lot at stake but this is what we like to play for. This is what makes it exciting”.
Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat who won this tournament last year by five strokes from Fung made his move by firing a 67.
Wisut, who went on to win the Order of Merit title, moved to six under along with Filipino Antonio Lascuna, who carded a 69.
Singapore’s Mardan Mamat fired a 70 to lie at two under for the tournament. The 44-year-old triumphed in the Philippine Open in February and PGM-CCM Impian Masters in Malaysia in March and will be expected to make a challenge over the next two days.
George Gandranata couldn't repeat the good round from yesterday and dropped to a share of ninth after a round of 74 today. He was surpassed by countrymen Junaidi Ibrahim and Andik Mauluddin who both carded a 70 today and now share 7th place together.
Meanwhile Indonesia's no 1 golfer Rory Hie was able to improve somewhat from his 75 yesterday with a 71 today, but still is in just a share of 39th position at the midpoint.
Leading second round scores (Par 72):
135 Gunn Charoenkul (THA) 65 70
136 Nicholas Fung (MAS) 68 68
137 Piya Swangarunporn (THA) 68 69, Annop Tangkamolprasert (THA) 67 70
138 Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 69 69, Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 71 67
139 Junaidi Ibrahim (INA) 69 70, Andik Mauluddin (INA) 69 70
141 Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 67 74, Pawin Ingkhapradit (THA) 66 75, Andi Yatmo (INA)70 71, George Gandranata (INA) 67 74, Varut Chomchalam (THA) 72 69
142 Mardan Mamat (SIN) 72 70, Mohd Hafiy Afiq Suhaili (MAS) 72 70
Selected:
144 Maan Nasim (INA) 73 71, Hendri Nasim (INA) 72 72, Benny Kasiadi (INA) 72 72
145 Hermawan Indra (INA) 70 75, Edi Sembiring (INA) 76 69, Ilyasyak (INA) 73 72
146 Heri Ki (INA) 71 75, Johannes Dermawan (INA) 74 72, Rory Hie (INA) 75 71
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
George Gandranata Fighting Thai Invasion In Palembang Musi Championship
Palembang, October 24 - Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul fired a flawless seven-under-par 65 to take the first round lead in the Palembang Musi Championship.
Gunn, full of confidence following victory on the Thai PGA Tour last week, made seven birdies at Palembang Golf Club to lead from his compatriot Pawin Ingkhapradit, who shot 66.
Indonesia’s George Gandranata and Annop Tangkamolprasert and Panuwat Muenlek from Thailand are in joint third place after carding 67s.
Boasting prize money of US$150,000 the tournament is the richest event on this year’s ASEAN PGA Tour.
It is also the final counting event for the Barclays Singapore Open with the leading three players on the Order of Merit qualifying for the US$6 million event in two weeks.
Gunn, aged 20, won the Singha Esan Open on the ASEAN PGA Tour in August for his first win since turning professional last year.
He won that event in a play-off, against Malaysian Nicholas Fung, plus he also triumphed in extra time last week in the Sir James Classic and after today’s sizzling round it looks like he will again be challenging for honours.
“Got the birdies going and had a bogey free round so I am happy with that,” said Gunn.
“The greens are a bit slow and the course is not that hard because we are playing preferred lies.”
The talent young Thai is halfway through studying business at Bangkok University and will graduate at the end of 2014.
However, after an impressive start to his professional career he may not need to rely on academic qualifications.
Gunn is presently in third place on the Merit list and his fine first round means he is in a strong position to qualify for the Singapore Open, which will be played from November 8 to 11.
First place this week is worth US$24,050, second is US$16,465 and third US$9,145.50, meaning the race to qualify for Sentosa Golf Club is wide open.
“I really want to make it through to the Barclays Singapore Open. That really is a huge goal this week with so many in with a chance of making it through.”
Gunn says his success is the result of a huge improvement in his putting.
He said: “I have been working really hard on my putting with my father. I have been working on making a bigger arc as I used to have a really short follow through.”
Fung, who was second here last year, returned a 68 along with S. Siva Chandran from Malaysia and Thailand’s Piya Swangarunporn.
Piya went out in six-under-par 30 but struggled home in two over.
Defending champion Wisut Artjanawat from Thailand, winner by five shots last season, came in with a 71 while Indonesia number one Rory Hie carded a 74.
Leading first round scores (Par 72):
65 - Gunn Charoenkul (THA)
66 - Pawin Ingkhapradit (THA)
67 - George Gandranata (INA), Annop Tangkamolprasert (THA), Panuwat Muenlek (THA)
68 - S Siva Chandran (MAS), Piya Swangarunporn (THA), Nicholas Fung (MAS)
69 - Andik Mauluddin (INA), Borworn Chaisri (THA), Junaidi Ibrahim (INA), Antonio Lascuna (PHI)
70 - Andi Yatmo (INA), Sirapong Maitreeyuenyong (THA), Indra Hermawan (INA), Stephen Lindskog (SWE)
71 - Somsak Khaoprathum (THA), Jamel Ondo (INA), Alwie Ramadhan (INA), Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA), Denny A Wijaya (INA), Nguyen Thai Duong (VNM), Wisut Artjanawat (THA), Heri KL (INA)
Selected:
72 – Mardan Mamat (SIN), Jay Bayron (PHI)
75 - Rory Hie (INA)
Gunn, full of confidence following victory on the Thai PGA Tour last week, made seven birdies at Palembang Golf Club to lead from his compatriot Pawin Ingkhapradit, who shot 66.
Indonesia’s George Gandranata and Annop Tangkamolprasert and Panuwat Muenlek from Thailand are in joint third place after carding 67s.
Boasting prize money of US$150,000 the tournament is the richest event on this year’s ASEAN PGA Tour.
It is also the final counting event for the Barclays Singapore Open with the leading three players on the Order of Merit qualifying for the US$6 million event in two weeks.
Gunn, aged 20, won the Singha Esan Open on the ASEAN PGA Tour in August for his first win since turning professional last year.
He won that event in a play-off, against Malaysian Nicholas Fung, plus he also triumphed in extra time last week in the Sir James Classic and after today’s sizzling round it looks like he will again be challenging for honours.
“Got the birdies going and had a bogey free round so I am happy with that,” said Gunn.
“The greens are a bit slow and the course is not that hard because we are playing preferred lies.”
The talent young Thai is halfway through studying business at Bangkok University and will graduate at the end of 2014.
However, after an impressive start to his professional career he may not need to rely on academic qualifications.
Gunn is presently in third place on the Merit list and his fine first round means he is in a strong position to qualify for the Singapore Open, which will be played from November 8 to 11.
First place this week is worth US$24,050, second is US$16,465 and third US$9,145.50, meaning the race to qualify for Sentosa Golf Club is wide open.
“I really want to make it through to the Barclays Singapore Open. That really is a huge goal this week with so many in with a chance of making it through.”
Gunn says his success is the result of a huge improvement in his putting.
He said: “I have been working really hard on my putting with my father. I have been working on making a bigger arc as I used to have a really short follow through.”
Fung, who was second here last year, returned a 68 along with S. Siva Chandran from Malaysia and Thailand’s Piya Swangarunporn.
Piya went out in six-under-par 30 but struggled home in two over.
Defending champion Wisut Artjanawat from Thailand, winner by five shots last season, came in with a 71 while Indonesia number one Rory Hie carded a 74.
Leading first round scores (Par 72):
65 - Gunn Charoenkul (THA)
66 - Pawin Ingkhapradit (THA)
67 - George Gandranata (INA), Annop Tangkamolprasert (THA), Panuwat Muenlek (THA)
68 - S Siva Chandran (MAS), Piya Swangarunporn (THA), Nicholas Fung (MAS)
69 - Andik Mauluddin (INA), Borworn Chaisri (THA), Junaidi Ibrahim (INA), Antonio Lascuna (PHI)
70 - Andi Yatmo (INA), Sirapong Maitreeyuenyong (THA), Indra Hermawan (INA), Stephen Lindskog (SWE)
71 - Somsak Khaoprathum (THA), Jamel Ondo (INA), Alwie Ramadhan (INA), Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA), Denny A Wijaya (INA), Nguyen Thai Duong (VNM), Wisut Artjanawat (THA), Heri KL (INA)
Selected:
72 – Mardan Mamat (SIN), Jay Bayron (PHI)
75 - Rory Hie (INA)
Indonesian Junior Golfer Eye-To-Eye With Tiger
Kuala Lumpur, 24 October 2012 - Tiger Woods, the world’s highest paid athlete, is in town and already creating a storm in the CIMB Classic, which begins at the Mines Resort and Golf Club tomorrow.
The current world No. 2, behind Rory McIlroy, arrived in the city early yesterday and wasted no time checking out the golf course, which he last played on 13 years ago.
Here Tiger Woods shared a light moment with Group Chief Executive CIMB Group Datuk Seri Nazir Razak and four CIMB junior golfers (from left) Putt Sridarma (Thailand), Lucius Toh (Singapore), Paquita Gadin (Indonesia) and Natasha Andrea Oon (Malaysia).
Woods last played on the course in the 1999 World Cup, partnering Mark O’Meara to clinch the title by five strokes for the United States.
The current world No. 2, behind Rory McIlroy, arrived in the city early yesterday and wasted no time checking out the golf course, which he last played on 13 years ago.
Woods last played on the course in the 1999 World Cup, partnering Mark O’Meara to clinch the title by five strokes for the United States.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
GWI Portfolio Extends To Yogyakarta And Surabaya
Surabaya, 23 Oct. 2012 - Five golf courses and three hotels have joined the Golf Wonderful Indonesia cooperative, signaling the momentum and appeal of this new destination-marketing initiative and delivering on the promise of organizers to offer international golf holiday-makers premium stay-and-play options across the Archipelago.
Golf Wonderful Indonesia, a consortium of premium courses, hotels and lifestyle outlets, has gathered these tourism partners in order to assemble series of custom golf travel packages that leverage the country's unique standing as a golf destination. Those packages are available via the branded web portal, www.golfwonderfulindonesia.com, which also serves as a clearinghouse of information centered on golf and tourism activities in country.
In August, Golf Wonderful Indonesia launched the site and an initial set of packages, with Jakarta as a hub and starting point. Today it adds courses and hotels in and around the ancient city of Yogyakarta and the country's second city, Surabaya.
New golf course partners include:
* Taman Dayu Golf Club & Resort, in Surabaya, a stunning Jack Nicklaus design laid out at the foot of Mt. Welirang.
* Finna Golf, in Surabaya, designed by Australian legend Peter Thompson amid the lush, tropical highlands of East Java.
* Bukit Darmo Golf, another sterling Nicklaus effort, located just 10 minutes from Surabaya's city center.
* Merapi Golf & Mountain Resort, in Yogyakarta, designed by Thompson some 800 meters above sea level and ringed by volcanic peaks.
* Borobudur International Golf & Country Club, in Yogyakarta, laid out by Douglas Duncanson next door to the famed 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument for which the club is named.
New Golf Wonderful hotel partners include:
* The Majapahit Hotel Surabaya, an historic 5-star property founded in 1910 by the Sarkies family, whose collection of grand hotels included Raffles in Singapore, The Strand in Rangoon, and The Eastern & Oriental in Penang.
* The Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta, an elegant 5-star property set amid 24 hectares of beautifully landscaped gardens on the outskirts of the city, the cultural heart of Java.
* The JW Marriott Surabaya, a gleamingly modern, 5-star high-rise whose 25 floors look out upon the city's most fashionable shopping district.
Golf tour packages to Surabaya and Yogyakarta, incorporating the new Golf Wonderful properties above, will be released by the end of October and posted at www.golfwonderfulindonesia.com, according to Harmony Le Riche, president director of PT Panorama Wisata Nusantara, the tour operator managing all in-bound traffic for Golf Wonderful Indonesia.
"Our efforts here differ from those of typical destination marketing and golf tour-packaging efforts in that the golf courses are already here -- some 170 of them -- and golf aficionados acknowledge the cream of the crop to be among the best resort tracks in Asia-Pacific," said Le Riche.
"Golf Wonderful is determined to bring in the pick of that litter as course partners, and this new group of courses in Yogyakarta and Surabaya certainly meet that high standard. Interest from top courses and hotels -- in the 4- and 5-star categories -- has been exceptionally high. We expect to announce partnerships by the start of 2013 that enable golfers to choose and customize itineraries from combinations of courses and hotels in Jakarta, Bogor, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Bandung and Bali."
Le Riche noted the Golf Wonderful Indonesia (GWI) brand clearly displays the strong support and partnership it enjoys from the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism, whose overarching slogan is "Wonderful Indonesia". National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is another GWI partner - the airline is now flying golf clubs free of charge.
That said, privately owned entities form the remainder of consortium membership, which also includes restaurants (for example, Negev, Jakarta's hottest new bistro) and golf teaching facilities (the Leadbetter Golf Academy at Cengkareng Golf Club).
Tour operator PT Panorama Wisata Nusantara has secured from all of its partners special rates enabling remarkably affordable and flexible packages available only through Golf Wonderful Indonesia.
"It's important that golfers and our fellow tour operators and travel agents understand how this works," said Le Riche. "We have secured exclusive rates with our partner courses and hotels, enabling extremely affordable packages that we intend to sell directly to golfers through golfwonderfulindonesia.com. That said, we fully expect and welcome international tour operators and travel agents to partner with us in the selling of these packages, as well, because PT Panorama Wisata Nusantara will handle all logistics on the ground here in Jakarta and across Indonesia.
"We can guarantee the quality of the Golf Wonderful Indonesia experience, the reliability of our transport, our logistics and local knowledge. But flexibility is also paramount. That's why we've provided a range of hotel partners to suit the budgets of various traveling golfers. We also recognize there is life outside golf -- we're eager to customize packages to enable golfing tourists the chance to experience all that Indonesia has to offer, from Jakarta to East Java, from Yogyakarta to Bali."
The website, www.golfwonderfulindonesia.com, is not merely the definitive source of information on golf in Indonesia. It is complemented by interactive media components including the Golf Wonderful Blog (recent items include a court victory ensuring that taxes burdens on Indonesian golf courses -- and resulting green fees -- will remain low), the GWI Facebook page (www.facebook.com/golfwonderfulindonesia) and Twitter account (follow GWI @golfwonderful).
For more information on Golf Wonderful Indonesia, contact PT Panorama Wisata Nusantara at +62 21.536.4469 or drop an email to info@golfwonderfulindonesia.com
Golf Wonderful Indonesia, a consortium of premium courses, hotels and lifestyle outlets, has gathered these tourism partners in order to assemble series of custom golf travel packages that leverage the country's unique standing as a golf destination. Those packages are available via the branded web portal, www.golfwonderfulindonesia.com, which also serves as a clearinghouse of information centered on golf and tourism activities in country.
In August, Golf Wonderful Indonesia launched the site and an initial set of packages, with Jakarta as a hub and starting point. Today it adds courses and hotels in and around the ancient city of Yogyakarta and the country's second city, Surabaya.
New golf course partners include:
* Taman Dayu Golf Club & Resort, in Surabaya, a stunning Jack Nicklaus design laid out at the foot of Mt. Welirang.
* Finna Golf, in Surabaya, designed by Australian legend Peter Thompson amid the lush, tropical highlands of East Java.
* Bukit Darmo Golf, another sterling Nicklaus effort, located just 10 minutes from Surabaya's city center.
* Merapi Golf & Mountain Resort, in Yogyakarta, designed by Thompson some 800 meters above sea level and ringed by volcanic peaks.
* Borobudur International Golf & Country Club, in Yogyakarta, laid out by Douglas Duncanson next door to the famed 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument for which the club is named.
New Golf Wonderful hotel partners include:
* The Majapahit Hotel Surabaya, an historic 5-star property founded in 1910 by the Sarkies family, whose collection of grand hotels included Raffles in Singapore, The Strand in Rangoon, and The Eastern & Oriental in Penang.
* The Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta, an elegant 5-star property set amid 24 hectares of beautifully landscaped gardens on the outskirts of the city, the cultural heart of Java.
* The JW Marriott Surabaya, a gleamingly modern, 5-star high-rise whose 25 floors look out upon the city's most fashionable shopping district.
Golf tour packages to Surabaya and Yogyakarta, incorporating the new Golf Wonderful properties above, will be released by the end of October and posted at www.golfwonderfulindonesia.com, according to Harmony Le Riche, president director of PT Panorama Wisata Nusantara, the tour operator managing all in-bound traffic for Golf Wonderful Indonesia.
"Our efforts here differ from those of typical destination marketing and golf tour-packaging efforts in that the golf courses are already here -- some 170 of them -- and golf aficionados acknowledge the cream of the crop to be among the best resort tracks in Asia-Pacific," said Le Riche.
"Golf Wonderful is determined to bring in the pick of that litter as course partners, and this new group of courses in Yogyakarta and Surabaya certainly meet that high standard. Interest from top courses and hotels -- in the 4- and 5-star categories -- has been exceptionally high. We expect to announce partnerships by the start of 2013 that enable golfers to choose and customize itineraries from combinations of courses and hotels in Jakarta, Bogor, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Bandung and Bali."
Le Riche noted the Golf Wonderful Indonesia (GWI) brand clearly displays the strong support and partnership it enjoys from the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism, whose overarching slogan is "Wonderful Indonesia". National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is another GWI partner - the airline is now flying golf clubs free of charge.
That said, privately owned entities form the remainder of consortium membership, which also includes restaurants (for example, Negev, Jakarta's hottest new bistro) and golf teaching facilities (the Leadbetter Golf Academy at Cengkareng Golf Club).
Tour operator PT Panorama Wisata Nusantara has secured from all of its partners special rates enabling remarkably affordable and flexible packages available only through Golf Wonderful Indonesia.
"It's important that golfers and our fellow tour operators and travel agents understand how this works," said Le Riche. "We have secured exclusive rates with our partner courses and hotels, enabling extremely affordable packages that we intend to sell directly to golfers through golfwonderfulindonesia.com. That said, we fully expect and welcome international tour operators and travel agents to partner with us in the selling of these packages, as well, because PT Panorama Wisata Nusantara will handle all logistics on the ground here in Jakarta and across Indonesia.
"We can guarantee the quality of the Golf Wonderful Indonesia experience, the reliability of our transport, our logistics and local knowledge. But flexibility is also paramount. That's why we've provided a range of hotel partners to suit the budgets of various traveling golfers. We also recognize there is life outside golf -- we're eager to customize packages to enable golfing tourists the chance to experience all that Indonesia has to offer, from Jakarta to East Java, from Yogyakarta to Bali."
The website, www.golfwonderfulindonesia.com, is not merely the definitive source of information on golf in Indonesia. It is complemented by interactive media components including the Golf Wonderful Blog (recent items include a court victory ensuring that taxes burdens on Indonesian golf courses -- and resulting green fees -- will remain low), the GWI Facebook page (www.facebook.com/golfwonderfulindonesia) and Twitter account (follow GWI @golfwonderful).
For more information on Golf Wonderful Indonesia, contact PT Panorama Wisata Nusantara at +62 21.536.4469 or drop an email to info@golfwonderfulindonesia.com
Pulses Racing As Palembang Musi Championship Provides Pathway To US$6 Million Barclays Singapore Open
Palembang, October 23 - The Palembang Musi Championship tees-off this Wednesday on the ASEAN PGA Tour playing an exciting and crucial role in determining who gets to play in the lucrative Barclays Singapore Open in two weeks.
The leading three players from the ASEAN PGA Order of Merit after this week’s tournament gain entry into the US$6 million event and with the prize money for Palembang having been increased to US$150,000 – twice as much as last year – the race is wide open.
Not surprisingly a strong field has entered including Indonesian number one Rory Hie, defending champion Wisut Artjanawat from Thailand, Singapore’s Mardan Mamat and Malaysian Nicholas Fung.
The tournament is being played at Palembang Golf Club and the rise in the purse makes it the most lucrative ASEAN PGA event this season.
Wisut, by virtue of winning last year’s Merit title, has already earned a place in the Singapore Open as has Mamat but the likes of Hie and Fung will be eyeing the US$24,050 first place cheque to see them through to Sentosa Golf Club.
In fact finishing second or third, worth cheques for US$16,465 and US$9,145.50, could also be enough.
“I am really psyched about this week. A top three finish should be able to earn a place in the Barclays Singapore Open,” said Hie, who is in 10th place on the Merit list.
Last week he finished in a tie for 25th in the Kolon Korea Open on OneAsia and the week before that he was equal eighth in the Nanshan China Masters, also on OneAsia.
“I have been playing really well this year and have stepped up a gear from last year,” added Hie.
In Palembang last season Hie was just three off the pace at the halfway stage but a final round two-over-par 74 saw him end in a tie for 12th.
Fung finished second in Palembang five shots behind Wisut and is also excited about the prospect of playing Singapore.
The young man from Sabah is fifth on the Merit list but with two players above him, Merit list leader Thaworn Wiratchant from Thailand and his countryman Thanyakon Khrongpha, having already earned their berths in Singapore through other channels, he presently holds the third qualifying place.
“At this stage I am in but that could all change by Sunday as the prize money is very good this week and a lot of good players are here,” said Fung.
“However I played well here last year and feel I am playing well enough to have a high finish this week.”
Also competing and eager to qualify for Sentosa are Jay Bayron from the Philippines, who is second on the Merit list, and Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul, winner of the Singha Esan Open in August and third on the Merit list.
Other fancied runners include Singapore’s Choo Tze Huang and Koh Dengshan, Filipinos Antonio Lascuna and Gerald Rosales and Malaysian Kenneth De Silva.
The Palembang Musi Championship made its debut on the ASEAN PGA Tour last year and was an outstanding success.
It was an event on the domestic circuit for a couple of years but organizers chose to elevate it to a more regional status.
In 2011 it also acted as a teaser for the 26th Southeast Asian Games which was held in Jakarta and Palembang.
Palembang Golf Club will provide an excellent test for competitors who will also be able to enjoy playing what is one of the eldest golf clubs in the country as it was opened in 1926.
Palembang is the capital city of South Sumatra Province and is located on the banks of the Musi River. It has a population of nearly 1.5 million and is the nation’s seventh-largest city.
The leading three players from the ASEAN PGA Order of Merit after this week’s tournament gain entry into the US$6 million event and with the prize money for Palembang having been increased to US$150,000 – twice as much as last year – the race is wide open.
Not surprisingly a strong field has entered including Indonesian number one Rory Hie, defending champion Wisut Artjanawat from Thailand, Singapore’s Mardan Mamat and Malaysian Nicholas Fung.
The tournament is being played at Palembang Golf Club and the rise in the purse makes it the most lucrative ASEAN PGA event this season.
Wisut, by virtue of winning last year’s Merit title, has already earned a place in the Singapore Open as has Mamat but the likes of Hie and Fung will be eyeing the US$24,050 first place cheque to see them through to Sentosa Golf Club.
In fact finishing second or third, worth cheques for US$16,465 and US$9,145.50, could also be enough.
“I am really psyched about this week. A top three finish should be able to earn a place in the Barclays Singapore Open,” said Hie, who is in 10th place on the Merit list.
Last week he finished in a tie for 25th in the Kolon Korea Open on OneAsia and the week before that he was equal eighth in the Nanshan China Masters, also on OneAsia.
“I have been playing really well this year and have stepped up a gear from last year,” added Hie.
In Palembang last season Hie was just three off the pace at the halfway stage but a final round two-over-par 74 saw him end in a tie for 12th.
Fung finished second in Palembang five shots behind Wisut and is also excited about the prospect of playing Singapore.
The young man from Sabah is fifth on the Merit list but with two players above him, Merit list leader Thaworn Wiratchant from Thailand and his countryman Thanyakon Khrongpha, having already earned their berths in Singapore through other channels, he presently holds the third qualifying place.
“At this stage I am in but that could all change by Sunday as the prize money is very good this week and a lot of good players are here,” said Fung.
“However I played well here last year and feel I am playing well enough to have a high finish this week.”
Also competing and eager to qualify for Sentosa are Jay Bayron from the Philippines, who is second on the Merit list, and Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul, winner of the Singha Esan Open in August and third on the Merit list.
Other fancied runners include Singapore’s Choo Tze Huang and Koh Dengshan, Filipinos Antonio Lascuna and Gerald Rosales and Malaysian Kenneth De Silva.
The Palembang Musi Championship made its debut on the ASEAN PGA Tour last year and was an outstanding success.
It was an event on the domestic circuit for a couple of years but organizers chose to elevate it to a more regional status.
In 2011 it also acted as a teaser for the 26th Southeast Asian Games which was held in Jakarta and Palembang.
Palembang Golf Club will provide an excellent test for competitors who will also be able to enjoy playing what is one of the eldest golf clubs in the country as it was opened in 1926.
Palembang is the capital city of South Sumatra Province and is located on the banks of the Musi River. It has a population of nearly 1.5 million and is the nation’s seventh-largest city.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Miss Indonesia Making A Case For Indonesia Golf Tourism
Last week the Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open was held at the Palm Hill Golf Club along the Jagorawi toll road, just south of Jakarta.
Besides it being the most lucrative event on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour in 2012, what attracts most attention in the international media is the participation of Miss Indonesia 2012, and top 15 finalist in the 2012 Miss World pageant, Inez Putri Tjiptadi, an accomplished amateur golfer from the island of Bali.
Although one can argue that her looks overshadowed the accomplishments of the female golfers in the field, she undoubtedly brought the world's attention to ladies golf in general and the Ladies Asian Golf Tour and golf in Indonesia in particular.
From this perspective we can only hope that her performance on the golf course soon will outshine her performance on the catwalk, and that after her reign as Miss Indonesia comes to an end she will be able to reign on the golf course and become a ambassador for golf in Indonesia.
Below are some of the articles that headline Miss Indonesia in the international media:
AFP (France): Beauty queen to play golf in Ladies Indonesia Open
Reuters (USA): Bogeys not bouquets for Miss Indonesia in Jakarta
GOLF.com (USA): Beauty queen tees off in Ladies Indonesian Open
Digibet.info (UK): Beauty queen competes in Indonesia Open golf tournament
Taipei Times (Taiwan): ASIAN TOUR: Golfing Miss Indonesia swaps crown and gown for Ladies Indonesia Open
The Star online (Malaysia): Veteran Mehra charges ahead as Miss Indonesia Ines returns respectable score
Besides it being the most lucrative event on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour in 2012, what attracts most attention in the international media is the participation of Miss Indonesia 2012, and top 15 finalist in the 2012 Miss World pageant, Inez Putri Tjiptadi, an accomplished amateur golfer from the island of Bali.
Although one can argue that her looks overshadowed the accomplishments of the female golfers in the field, she undoubtedly brought the world's attention to ladies golf in general and the Ladies Asian Golf Tour and golf in Indonesia in particular.
From this perspective we can only hope that her performance on the golf course soon will outshine her performance on the catwalk, and that after her reign as Miss Indonesia comes to an end she will be able to reign on the golf course and become a ambassador for golf in Indonesia.
Below are some of the articles that headline Miss Indonesia in the international media:
AFP (France): Beauty queen to play golf in Ladies Indonesia Open
Reuters (USA): Bogeys not bouquets for Miss Indonesia in Jakarta
GOLF.com (USA): Beauty queen tees off in Ladies Indonesian Open
Digibet.info (UK): Beauty queen competes in Indonesia Open golf tournament
Taipei Times (Taiwan): ASIAN TOUR: Golfing Miss Indonesia swaps crown and gown for Ladies Indonesia Open
The Star online (Malaysia): Veteran Mehra charges ahead as Miss Indonesia Ines returns respectable score
Junior Golf Community of Surabaya Tournament At Taman Dayu
Sunday 4 November 2012 the Junior Golf Community of Surabaya (JGCS) is organizing a tournament at Taman Dayu Golf Club & Resort in Pandaan, East Java.
The tournament is open to all juniors under the age of 18 years old.
For further information contact Indarso Tjandra at 0878 545 88899 or Winarto Wijono at 0812 303 4630 and visit www.facebook.com/JGCSurabaya.
The tournament is open to all juniors under the age of 18 years old.
Age Divisions For Boys & Girls
A: 15-17 years
Boys blue tee / Girls white teeB: 13-14 years
Boys blue tee / Girls white teeC: 11-12 years
Boys white tee / Girls red teeD: 9-10 years
Boys and Girls red teeBeginner Divsions
(Forward tee and may ride golf cart)9-10 years
8 years & under
Tournament details
Tee Off
12.00 noon. Format is 18 holes individual stroke play.Entry Fee
Rp. 425.000/18 Holes (inclusive caddy fee and dinner, exclude caddy tips)Awards
Awards will be presented to top 2 in each age division (boys and girls combined)Registration
Registration by email to igcs27@yahoo.com or sms to 081 230 34 630.Payment
Transfer to Winarto Wijono, BNI KCP Tg Perak account no. 871 2345 870Deadline
Closing date for registration and payment is Thursday 1 November 2012.For further information contact Indarso Tjandra at 0878 545 88899 or Winarto Wijono at 0812 303 4630 and visit www.facebook.com/JGCSurabaya.
Rory Hie Fights Back To Top 25 Finish in Kolon Korea Open
Cheonan, Korea, Oct 21 - Two-time winner Kim Dae-sub, only recently discharged from 20 months of military service, underscored his return to competitive golf with a brilliant two-stroke victory on Sunday in OneAsia's Kolon Korea Open.
Kim fired a final round two-under-par 69 for a five-under tournament total of 279 around the tough Woo Jeong Hills Country Club -- and a winner's cheque of 300,000 million won (around $270,000), the richest prize in Korean golf.
Co-overnight leader Kim Dae-hyun (71) birdied the last to grab sole second place, while Kang Kyung-nam -- who led for two rounds before a 77 in the third -- fought back on Sunday with a 68 for a share of third with Major winner Y.E. Yang (67).
Kim Dae-sub burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old schoolboy amateur in 1998 when he beat the country's best professionals to lift his first Korea Open title.
He proved that was no fluke by repeating the feat in 2001 -- turning professional immediately afterwards -- but never quite fulfilled his potential and kept deferring the national service that all Korean men must do in a bid to find form in the paid ranks.
Running out of time, he was finally conscripted as a 29-year-old in 2010, and although he effectively had a nine-to-five office job in the army, tournament golf was out of the question.
Discharged just two months ago, Kim signaled his return by winning on the Korean Tour three weeks later.
"I always dreamed I would win the Korea Open as a professional, but I didn't think it would happen this year," he said. "This is the happiest day of my life."
The turning point in the final round came on the second hole when Kim Dae-sub drained an 18 foot putt for birdie and and never looked back as playing partner Kim Dae-hyun three-putted for bogey.
Ahead of them Kang birdied three in-a-row to get back into the tournament, but despite another three on the back nine he kept leaking bogeys.
Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa, a nine-time winner on his domestic tour at just 21, climbed up the leaderboard with four birdies on the front nine but couldn't sustain the challenge and had to settle for a share of seventh place, six shots off the pace, with American David Oh.
Rory Hie of Indonesia and Brazilian Lucas lee -- who both finished at nine over for a share of 25th -- were the only two other non-Koreans in the top 30. The Indonesian closed the tournament with a round of 70, and could have made the top 10 if it wasn't for his poor 3rd round.
The next event on the OneAsia calendar is the Australian Open in Sydney from December 6-9, boasting some of the country's top overseas players as they return from duty on the PGA and European Tours for an end-of-year break.
Kim Dae-sub said he planned to continue playing in Korea in the short term, and would try play on the Japan Tour next year.
But his ultimate goal was to emulate countrymen K.J. Choi and Y.E. Yang and ply his trade on the world stage.
"I would like to be like them one day," he said. "I want to test myself against the best."
Scores after round 4 of the Kolon Korea Open being played at the par 71, 6,605-metre (7,225- yard) Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course (a- denotes amateur):
279 - KIM Dae-sub (KOR) 72-68-70-69.
281 - KIM Dae-hyun (KOR) 71-73-66-71.
282 - Y. E. YANG (KOR) 73-70-72-67, KANG Kyung-nam (KOR) 68-69-77-68.
283 - RYU Hyun-woo (KOR) 75-69-73-66.
284 - NOH Seung-yul (KOR) 73-74-68-69.
285 - David OH (USA) 73-72-72-68, Ryo ISHIKAWA (JPN) 75-72-69-69, CHOI Ho-sung (KOR) 71-71-72-71.
287 - CHAE Bum-geun (KOR) 72-74-71-70.
288 - BAE Sang-moon (KOR) 79-72-72-65, CHOI Jin-ho (KOR) 74-72-71-71, LEE Sang-hee (KOR) 77-68-69-74.
289 - CHUNG Joon (KOR) 76-75-67-71.
290 - PARK Eun-shin (KOR) 79-73-71-67, MAENG Dong-seop (KOR) 73-74-72-71, MO Joong-kyung (KOR) 78-70-71-71, LEE Seong-ho (KOR) 74-70-73-73, KANG Wook-soon (KOR) 73-71-69-77.
291 - KIM Seung-hyuk (KOR) 74-73-74-70, PARK Jun-won (KOR) 74-76-70-71, PARK Hyun-bin (KOR) 73-72-69-77.
292 - HWANG In-choon (KOR) 74-70-75-73, BYUN Jin-jae (KOR) 77-71-76-68.
293 - PARK Sang-hyun (KOR) 76-71-76-70, Rory HIE (INA) 73-72-78-70, Lucas LEE (BRA) 72-71-76-74, LEE Chang-woo (am, KOR) 74-76-68-75.
Kim fired a final round two-under-par 69 for a five-under tournament total of 279 around the tough Woo Jeong Hills Country Club -- and a winner's cheque of 300,000 million won (around $270,000), the richest prize in Korean golf.
Co-overnight leader Kim Dae-hyun (71) birdied the last to grab sole second place, while Kang Kyung-nam -- who led for two rounds before a 77 in the third -- fought back on Sunday with a 68 for a share of third with Major winner Y.E. Yang (67).
Kim Dae-sub burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old schoolboy amateur in 1998 when he beat the country's best professionals to lift his first Korea Open title.
He proved that was no fluke by repeating the feat in 2001 -- turning professional immediately afterwards -- but never quite fulfilled his potential and kept deferring the national service that all Korean men must do in a bid to find form in the paid ranks.
Running out of time, he was finally conscripted as a 29-year-old in 2010, and although he effectively had a nine-to-five office job in the army, tournament golf was out of the question.
Discharged just two months ago, Kim signaled his return by winning on the Korean Tour three weeks later.
"I always dreamed I would win the Korea Open as a professional, but I didn't think it would happen this year," he said. "This is the happiest day of my life."
The turning point in the final round came on the second hole when Kim Dae-sub drained an 18 foot putt for birdie and and never looked back as playing partner Kim Dae-hyun three-putted for bogey.
Ahead of them Kang birdied three in-a-row to get back into the tournament, but despite another three on the back nine he kept leaking bogeys.
Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa, a nine-time winner on his domestic tour at just 21, climbed up the leaderboard with four birdies on the front nine but couldn't sustain the challenge and had to settle for a share of seventh place, six shots off the pace, with American David Oh.
Rory Hie of Indonesia and Brazilian Lucas lee -- who both finished at nine over for a share of 25th -- were the only two other non-Koreans in the top 30. The Indonesian closed the tournament with a round of 70, and could have made the top 10 if it wasn't for his poor 3rd round.
The next event on the OneAsia calendar is the Australian Open in Sydney from December 6-9, boasting some of the country's top overseas players as they return from duty on the PGA and European Tours for an end-of-year break.
Kim Dae-sub said he planned to continue playing in Korea in the short term, and would try play on the Japan Tour next year.
But his ultimate goal was to emulate countrymen K.J. Choi and Y.E. Yang and ply his trade on the world stage.
"I would like to be like them one day," he said. "I want to test myself against the best."
Scores after round 4 of the Kolon Korea Open being played at the par 71, 6,605-metre (7,225- yard) Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course (a- denotes amateur):
279 - KIM Dae-sub (KOR) 72-68-70-69.
281 - KIM Dae-hyun (KOR) 71-73-66-71.
282 - Y. E. YANG (KOR) 73-70-72-67, KANG Kyung-nam (KOR) 68-69-77-68.
283 - RYU Hyun-woo (KOR) 75-69-73-66.
284 - NOH Seung-yul (KOR) 73-74-68-69.
285 - David OH (USA) 73-72-72-68, Ryo ISHIKAWA (JPN) 75-72-69-69, CHOI Ho-sung (KOR) 71-71-72-71.
287 - CHAE Bum-geun (KOR) 72-74-71-70.
288 - BAE Sang-moon (KOR) 79-72-72-65, CHOI Jin-ho (KOR) 74-72-71-71, LEE Sang-hee (KOR) 77-68-69-74.
289 - CHUNG Joon (KOR) 76-75-67-71.
290 - PARK Eun-shin (KOR) 79-73-71-67, MAENG Dong-seop (KOR) 73-74-72-71, MO Joong-kyung (KOR) 78-70-71-71, LEE Seong-ho (KOR) 74-70-73-73, KANG Wook-soon (KOR) 73-71-69-77.
291 - KIM Seung-hyuk (KOR) 74-73-74-70, PARK Jun-won (KOR) 74-76-70-71, PARK Hyun-bin (KOR) 73-72-69-77.
292 - HWANG In-choon (KOR) 74-70-75-73, BYUN Jin-jae (KOR) 77-71-76-68.
293 - PARK Sang-hyun (KOR) 76-71-76-70, Rory HIE (INA) 73-72-78-70, Lucas LEE (BRA) 72-71-76-74, LEE Chang-woo (am, KOR) 74-76-68-75.
Two Kims Share Lead While Rory Hie Stumbles At Kolon Korea Open
Cheonan, Korea, Oct 20 - Kim Dae-hyun fired a tournament-best five-under-par 66 on Saturday to grab a share of the lead with two-time winner Kim Dae-sub (70) going into the final round of OneAsia's Kolon Korea Open.
The pair are three under par for the tournament and three shots clear of Kang Wook-soon (69) around the brutally tough Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course, around 85 kms (50 miles) south of the capital.
Kang Kyung-nam, who led for the first two rounds, was a shot further back with a share of fourth place after slumping to a 77.
Kim Dae-hyun, runner up on OneAsia's Order of Merit in 2010 when he won the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, has made just two cuts on the circuit this year, although he won a matchplay event on the Korea Tour tour last month.
"This is a very difficult tournament this year, so any score under par is good," he said after a round that included seven birdies and two bogeys.
"I am not sure if I could go five under par again."
Kim Dae-sub is well in the hunt for a third Korea Open title -- but his first as a professional -- after winning as a 16-year-old amateur in 1998 and repeating the feat in 2001, after which he turned to the paid ranks.
His performance is even more remarkable given he has not played tournament golf for nearly two years, having only just completed his compulsory military service.
"I am just trying to play steady and not expect too much," he said, despite winning last month on the Korean Tour, three weeks after being discharged.
Kim Dae-sub had what amounted to a nine-to-five office job during his 20-months of national service and so kept his game up by playing and practicing at the weekend, but he said tournament golf was still taking some getting used to.
"I thought about trying for the Japan or PGA Tours, but first I need to test myself against the Korean players and get back into shape," he said.
Kang, the only player to shoot the first two rounds under par, was six over on a day his putter went cold -- particularly on the ninth, when he four-putted for a triple bogey.
Star attraction Ryo Ishikawa from Japan is not out of the tournament after shooting a third-round 69 that leaves him six shots behind the leaders and alone in 11th place.
Y.E. Yang, the first player from Asia to win a Major and runner up in last week's Nanshan China Masters, shot a 72 to stand at two over for the tournament.
Indonesia's number one Rory Hie had a tough day on the course, when 6 bogeys, a double bogey and just one birdie saw him tumble to a share of 35th with a total of 223. This means tomorrow he will need a record breaking round to get back in the running for a top ten position, something that may prove too hard with the current condition of the course.
Scores after round 3 of the Kolon Korea Open being played at the par 71, 6,605-metre (7,225- yard) Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course (a- denotes amateur):
210 - KIM Dae-hyun (KOR) 71-73-66, KIM Dae-sub (KOR) 72-68-70.
213 - KANG Wook-soon (KOR) 73-71-69.
214 - PARK Hyun-bin (KOR) 73-72-69, LEE Sang-hee (KOR) 77-68-69, CHOI Ho-sung (KOR) 71-71-72, KANG Kyung-nam (KOR) 68-69-77.
215 - NOH Seung-yul (KOR) 73-74-68, Y. E. YANG (KOR) 73-70-72, HONG Chang-kyu (USA) 71-71-73.
216 - Ryo ISHIKAWA (JPN) 75-72-69.
217 - CHAE Bum-geun (KOR) 72-74-71, CHOI Jin-ho (KOR) 74-72-71, David OH (USA) 73-72-72, LEE Seong-ho (KOR) 74-70-73, RYU Hyun-woo (KOR) 75-69-73.
218 - CHUNG Joon (KOR) 76-75-67, LEE Chang-woo (am, KOR) 74-76-68.
219 - PARK Sung-kug (KOR) 79-70-70, MO Joong-kyung (KOR) 78-70-71, MAENG Dong-seop (KOR) 73-74-72, Chris CAMPBELL (AUS) 74-73-72, HWANG In-choon (KOR) 74-70-75, Lucas LEE (BRA) 72-71-76.
220 - HONG Sung-min (KOR) 78-74-68, PARK Jun-won (KOR) 74-76-70, KIM Byung-jun (KOR) 71-75-74.
221 - Garrett SAPP (USA) 70-79-72, Wisut ARTJANAWAT (THA) 73-75-73, KIM Seung-hyuk (KOR) 74-73-74.
222 - Henry EPSTEIN (AUS) 76-75-71, KIM Ki-soo (KOR) 75-75-72, LEE Jin-won (KOR) 77-73-72, KIM Woo-chan (KOR) 75-73-74.
223 - PARK Eun-shin (KOR) 79-73-71, BAE Sang-moon (KOR) 79-72-72, YU Gyoung-Yoon (KOR) 83-67-73, BAE Hee-chan (KOR) 73-75-75, SUK Jong-yul (KOR) 71-76-76, PARK Sang-hyun (KOR) 76-71-76, LEE Ki-sang (KOR) 73-73-77, Rory HIE (INA) 73-72-78
The pair are three under par for the tournament and three shots clear of Kang Wook-soon (69) around the brutally tough Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course, around 85 kms (50 miles) south of the capital.
Kang Kyung-nam, who led for the first two rounds, was a shot further back with a share of fourth place after slumping to a 77.
Kim Dae-hyun, runner up on OneAsia's Order of Merit in 2010 when he won the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, has made just two cuts on the circuit this year, although he won a matchplay event on the Korea Tour tour last month.
"This is a very difficult tournament this year, so any score under par is good," he said after a round that included seven birdies and two bogeys.
"I am not sure if I could go five under par again."
Kim Dae-sub is well in the hunt for a third Korea Open title -- but his first as a professional -- after winning as a 16-year-old amateur in 1998 and repeating the feat in 2001, after which he turned to the paid ranks.
His performance is even more remarkable given he has not played tournament golf for nearly two years, having only just completed his compulsory military service.
"I am just trying to play steady and not expect too much," he said, despite winning last month on the Korean Tour, three weeks after being discharged.
Kim Dae-sub had what amounted to a nine-to-five office job during his 20-months of national service and so kept his game up by playing and practicing at the weekend, but he said tournament golf was still taking some getting used to.
"I thought about trying for the Japan or PGA Tours, but first I need to test myself against the Korean players and get back into shape," he said.
Kang, the only player to shoot the first two rounds under par, was six over on a day his putter went cold -- particularly on the ninth, when he four-putted for a triple bogey.
Star attraction Ryo Ishikawa from Japan is not out of the tournament after shooting a third-round 69 that leaves him six shots behind the leaders and alone in 11th place.
Y.E. Yang, the first player from Asia to win a Major and runner up in last week's Nanshan China Masters, shot a 72 to stand at two over for the tournament.
Indonesia's number one Rory Hie had a tough day on the course, when 6 bogeys, a double bogey and just one birdie saw him tumble to a share of 35th with a total of 223. This means tomorrow he will need a record breaking round to get back in the running for a top ten position, something that may prove too hard with the current condition of the course.
Scores after round 3 of the Kolon Korea Open being played at the par 71, 6,605-metre (7,225- yard) Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course (a- denotes amateur):
210 - KIM Dae-hyun (KOR) 71-73-66, KIM Dae-sub (KOR) 72-68-70.
213 - KANG Wook-soon (KOR) 73-71-69.
214 - PARK Hyun-bin (KOR) 73-72-69, LEE Sang-hee (KOR) 77-68-69, CHOI Ho-sung (KOR) 71-71-72, KANG Kyung-nam (KOR) 68-69-77.
215 - NOH Seung-yul (KOR) 73-74-68, Y. E. YANG (KOR) 73-70-72, HONG Chang-kyu (USA) 71-71-73.
216 - Ryo ISHIKAWA (JPN) 75-72-69.
217 - CHAE Bum-geun (KOR) 72-74-71, CHOI Jin-ho (KOR) 74-72-71, David OH (USA) 73-72-72, LEE Seong-ho (KOR) 74-70-73, RYU Hyun-woo (KOR) 75-69-73.
218 - CHUNG Joon (KOR) 76-75-67, LEE Chang-woo (am, KOR) 74-76-68.
219 - PARK Sung-kug (KOR) 79-70-70, MO Joong-kyung (KOR) 78-70-71, MAENG Dong-seop (KOR) 73-74-72, Chris CAMPBELL (AUS) 74-73-72, HWANG In-choon (KOR) 74-70-75, Lucas LEE (BRA) 72-71-76.
220 - HONG Sung-min (KOR) 78-74-68, PARK Jun-won (KOR) 74-76-70, KIM Byung-jun (KOR) 71-75-74.
221 - Garrett SAPP (USA) 70-79-72, Wisut ARTJANAWAT (THA) 73-75-73, KIM Seung-hyuk (KOR) 74-73-74.
222 - Henry EPSTEIN (AUS) 76-75-71, KIM Ki-soo (KOR) 75-75-72, LEE Jin-won (KOR) 77-73-72, KIM Woo-chan (KOR) 75-73-74.
223 - PARK Eun-shin (KOR) 79-73-71, BAE Sang-moon (KOR) 79-72-72, YU Gyoung-Yoon (KOR) 83-67-73, BAE Hee-chan (KOR) 73-75-75, SUK Jong-yul (KOR) 71-76-76, PARK Sang-hyun (KOR) 76-71-76, LEE Ki-sang (KOR) 73-73-77, Rory HIE (INA) 73-72-78
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Kongkapan Steals Victory At Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open
Jakarta, October 20 - Diminutive Thai golfer Patcharachuta Kongkapan showed she has a big future by cruising to a three-shot victory in the US$200,000 Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open today.
An imperious four-under-par 68 saw her dominate the final round at Palm Hill Golf Club with no one able to get close.
Taiwan’s Hsieh Yu-ling claimed second place after shooting a 68 while Malaysian amateur Kelly Tan finished in third position two shots further back. She closed with a 74.
Tan led by one stroke at the start of the third and final round from Patcharachuta and veteran Indian Smriti Mehra.
However, the Thai golfer swiftly pulled ahead with birdies on the first, third, fourth and seventh.
She led by four shots at the turn and cruised home with her only bogey of the day coming on the last.
“My concentration was very good today and I was able to stay calm. I have been playing well recently and it keeps getting better. I am so happy to win,” said Patcharachuta, who received a cheque for US$30,000.
Her previous best finish was fourth place in this year’s Ladies Thailand Open.
It is Patcharachuta’s first victory on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour and the third win of the season by a Thai player.
Nontaya Srisawang claimed the Ladies Thailand Open in February while Tiranan Yoopan triumphed in last month’s Technology Cup in Taiwan.
Hsieh stormed through at the end making birdies on three out of the last six holes to snatch second place while Tan failed to make any birdies and made two bogies.
Mehra, the first round leader, had a poor finish carding a bogey on 15, a double on 17 and a bogey on the last to fall back into a tie for eighth.
Amateur star Inez Putri, winner of this year’s Miss Indonesia, signed off with an 81 to end in a tie for 55th place.
Leading final round scores:
209 - Patcharachuta Kongkapan (THA) 71 70 68
212 – Hsieh Yu-ling (TPE) 71 73 68
214 – Kelly Tan (MAS) (a) 71 69 74
215 – Kusuma Meechai (THA) 73 73 69, Connie Chen (RSA) 74 69 72, Dottie Ardina (PHI) (a) 72 72 71
216 - Michelle Koh (MAS) (a) 75 68 73
217 – Walailak Satarak (US) 71 74 72, Numa Gulyanamitta (THA) 74 71 72, Smriti Mehra (IND) 69 72 76
219 - Thidapa Suwannapura (THA) 71 78 70, Rebecca Hudson (ENG) 76 73 70, Jaruporn Palakawong (THA) 72 75 72
220 – Stacey Keating (AUS) 76 75 69, Neha Tripathi (AUS) 75 73 72, Sahra Hassan (WAL) 73 74 73, Tiffany Tavee (US) 75 72 73, Anil Abu Bakar Johani (MAS) 75 72 73, Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) 74 71 75
Selected:
228 – Nikki Garrett (AUS) 79 73 76
229 – Lidya Ivana Jaya (INA) 79 76 74
236 – Inez Putri (INA) (a) 79 76 81
An imperious four-under-par 68 saw her dominate the final round at Palm Hill Golf Club with no one able to get close.
Taiwan’s Hsieh Yu-ling claimed second place after shooting a 68 while Malaysian amateur Kelly Tan finished in third position two shots further back. She closed with a 74.
Tan led by one stroke at the start of the third and final round from Patcharachuta and veteran Indian Smriti Mehra.
However, the Thai golfer swiftly pulled ahead with birdies on the first, third, fourth and seventh.
She led by four shots at the turn and cruised home with her only bogey of the day coming on the last.
“My concentration was very good today and I was able to stay calm. I have been playing well recently and it keeps getting better. I am so happy to win,” said Patcharachuta, who received a cheque for US$30,000.
Her previous best finish was fourth place in this year’s Ladies Thailand Open.
It is Patcharachuta’s first victory on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour and the third win of the season by a Thai player.
Nontaya Srisawang claimed the Ladies Thailand Open in February while Tiranan Yoopan triumphed in last month’s Technology Cup in Taiwan.
Hsieh stormed through at the end making birdies on three out of the last six holes to snatch second place while Tan failed to make any birdies and made two bogies.
Mehra, the first round leader, had a poor finish carding a bogey on 15, a double on 17 and a bogey on the last to fall back into a tie for eighth.
Amateur star Inez Putri, winner of this year’s Miss Indonesia, signed off with an 81 to end in a tie for 55th place.
Leading final round scores:
209 - Patcharachuta Kongkapan (THA) 71 70 68
212 – Hsieh Yu-ling (TPE) 71 73 68
214 – Kelly Tan (MAS) (a) 71 69 74
215 – Kusuma Meechai (THA) 73 73 69, Connie Chen (RSA) 74 69 72, Dottie Ardina (PHI) (a) 72 72 71
216 - Michelle Koh (MAS) (a) 75 68 73
217 – Walailak Satarak (US) 71 74 72, Numa Gulyanamitta (THA) 74 71 72, Smriti Mehra (IND) 69 72 76
219 - Thidapa Suwannapura (THA) 71 78 70, Rebecca Hudson (ENG) 76 73 70, Jaruporn Palakawong (THA) 72 75 72
220 – Stacey Keating (AUS) 76 75 69, Neha Tripathi (AUS) 75 73 72, Sahra Hassan (WAL) 73 74 73, Tiffany Tavee (US) 75 72 73, Anil Abu Bakar Johani (MAS) 75 72 73, Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) 74 71 75
Selected:
228 – Nikki Garrett (AUS) 79 73 76
229 – Lidya Ivana Jaya (INA) 79 76 74
236 – Inez Putri (INA) (a) 79 76 81
Friday, October 19, 2012
Rory Hie Closing In On Another Top Ten Finish At Kolon Korea Open
Cheonan, Korea, Oct 19 - Kang Kyung-nam tightened his grip on OneAsia's Kolon Korea Open with a two-under par 69 on Friday to stand five under for the tournament and take a three-shot lead into the weekend.
Korean Kang is the only player to go two rounds under par -- and one of only two in the red for the tournament -- at a brutally set-up Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course, about 85 kms (50 miles) south of the capital, Seoul.
Alone in second place is two-time champion Kim Dae-sub, only recently discharged from 20 months of military service, who fired a 68 to go with his first-round 72.
Sharing third at level par are American Charles Hong Chang-kyu (71-71) and Korean Choi Ho-sung (71-71), while Y.E. Yang -- the first player from Asia to win a Major -- is a shot further back in fifth with Brazilian Lucas Lee.
Kang, who has had two top-three finishes in OneAsia tournaments already this year, went on the defensive after bogeying the third and credits a hot putter for keeping him ahead of the pack.
"You can't be too aggressive here," said the 29-year-old, who has needed just 52 putts over 36 holes. "You just have to get the ball on the green and then take your chances."
He said he had expected a winning score of around eight to 10 under par ahead of the tournament, but had revised his estimate to seven or eight after seeing how tough it was.
Second-placed Kim caught the attention of the golf world when he won his first Korean Open as a 16-year-old high school amateur in 1998, but he proved it was was no fluke by repeating the feat three years later -- after which he immediately turned professional.
He won six times on the Korean Tour until 2010 when he had to stow his clubs for nearly two years while undertaking compulsory military service, but returned to winning ways last month, just three weeks after being discharged, with victory at the Dongu Promi Open.
"I had no expectations to do well because I have only just started playing again," said Kim. "I am just trying to get my game back together, so I am very pleased with my score because this tournament is very important to me."
Another two-time winner, Bae Sang-moon, played his way back into the tournament with a 72 on Friday after going eight over in the first round.
The Korean Golf Association, chastened after American Rickie Fowler shot a course record 63 en-route to a 16-under par total and victory in last year's event, responded by setting some brutal pin positions and growing the rough around the green.
The result is a cut set at 10 over par -- a record on OneAsia.
Korean-born Hong, now a naturalised American, was delighted with his second successive 71 after a year he admits has been less than average.
"I really haven't done anything special for a while, so I am really pleased with my tournament so far," he said after a round in which three birdies cancelled out three bogeys.
"This course is so tough, but I managed to keep the ball below the hole and you have to do that to have any chance."
Meanwhile Indonesian Rory Hie had another round with mixed fortunes where he wrote down 6 birdies along with 5 bogeys and a double bogey on his scorecard. His second round score of 72 helped him to climb to 12th place on the leaderboard, 8 shots behind the halfway leader.
The course got its revenge on American Garret Sapp, one-under and second overnight, who had nine bogeys in round two and now stands at seven over.
Yu Gyoung-yoon's fortunes went in the opposite direction. After shooting an 83 on Thursday, he was 16 shots better on Friday with a tournament-best 67.
Star attraction Ryo Ishikawa from Japan will have his work cut out this weekend at five over par, while U.S.-based 14-year-old Chinese amateur Andy Zhang -- the youngest player ever to take part in a U.S. Open -- missed the cut after rounds of 78.
Scores after round 2 of the Kolon Korea Open being played at the par 71, 6,605-metre (7,225- yard) Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course (a- denotes amateur):
137 - KANG Kyung-nam (KOR) 68-69.
140 - KIM Dae-sub (KOR) 72-68.
142 - HONG Chang-kyu (USA) 71-71, CHOI Ho-sung (KOR) 71-71.
143 - Y. E. YANG (KOR) 73-70, Lucas LEE (BRA) 72-71.
144 - KIM Dae-hyun (KOR) 71-73, LEE Seong-ho (KOR) 74-70, RYU Hyun-woo (KOR) 75-69, HWANG In-choon (KOR) 74-70, KANG Wook-soon (KOR) 73-71.
145 - David OH (USA) 73-72, PARK Hyun-bin (KOR) 73-72, SONG Ki-joon (KOR) 74-71, Rory HIE (INA) 73-72, LEE Sang-hee (KOR) 77-68.
146 - PARK Jun-sub (KOR) 77-69, CHAE Bum-geun (KOR) 72-74, CHOI Jin-ho (KOR) 74-72, LEE Ki-sang (KOR) 73-73, KIM Byung-jun (KOR) 71-75.
Korean Kang is the only player to go two rounds under par -- and one of only two in the red for the tournament -- at a brutally set-up Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course, about 85 kms (50 miles) south of the capital, Seoul.
Alone in second place is two-time champion Kim Dae-sub, only recently discharged from 20 months of military service, who fired a 68 to go with his first-round 72.
Sharing third at level par are American Charles Hong Chang-kyu (71-71) and Korean Choi Ho-sung (71-71), while Y.E. Yang -- the first player from Asia to win a Major -- is a shot further back in fifth with Brazilian Lucas Lee.
Kang, who has had two top-three finishes in OneAsia tournaments already this year, went on the defensive after bogeying the third and credits a hot putter for keeping him ahead of the pack.
"You can't be too aggressive here," said the 29-year-old, who has needed just 52 putts over 36 holes. "You just have to get the ball on the green and then take your chances."
He said he had expected a winning score of around eight to 10 under par ahead of the tournament, but had revised his estimate to seven or eight after seeing how tough it was.
Second-placed Kim caught the attention of the golf world when he won his first Korean Open as a 16-year-old high school amateur in 1998, but he proved it was was no fluke by repeating the feat three years later -- after which he immediately turned professional.
He won six times on the Korean Tour until 2010 when he had to stow his clubs for nearly two years while undertaking compulsory military service, but returned to winning ways last month, just three weeks after being discharged, with victory at the Dongu Promi Open.
"I had no expectations to do well because I have only just started playing again," said Kim. "I am just trying to get my game back together, so I am very pleased with my score because this tournament is very important to me."
Another two-time winner, Bae Sang-moon, played his way back into the tournament with a 72 on Friday after going eight over in the first round.
The Korean Golf Association, chastened after American Rickie Fowler shot a course record 63 en-route to a 16-under par total and victory in last year's event, responded by setting some brutal pin positions and growing the rough around the green.
The result is a cut set at 10 over par -- a record on OneAsia.
Korean-born Hong, now a naturalised American, was delighted with his second successive 71 after a year he admits has been less than average.
"I really haven't done anything special for a while, so I am really pleased with my tournament so far," he said after a round in which three birdies cancelled out three bogeys.
"This course is so tough, but I managed to keep the ball below the hole and you have to do that to have any chance."
Meanwhile Indonesian Rory Hie had another round with mixed fortunes where he wrote down 6 birdies along with 5 bogeys and a double bogey on his scorecard. His second round score of 72 helped him to climb to 12th place on the leaderboard, 8 shots behind the halfway leader.
The course got its revenge on American Garret Sapp, one-under and second overnight, who had nine bogeys in round two and now stands at seven over.
Yu Gyoung-yoon's fortunes went in the opposite direction. After shooting an 83 on Thursday, he was 16 shots better on Friday with a tournament-best 67.
Star attraction Ryo Ishikawa from Japan will have his work cut out this weekend at five over par, while U.S.-based 14-year-old Chinese amateur Andy Zhang -- the youngest player ever to take part in a U.S. Open -- missed the cut after rounds of 78.
Scores after round 2 of the Kolon Korea Open being played at the par 71, 6,605-metre (7,225- yard) Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course (a- denotes amateur):
137 - KANG Kyung-nam (KOR) 68-69.
140 - KIM Dae-sub (KOR) 72-68.
142 - HONG Chang-kyu (USA) 71-71, CHOI Ho-sung (KOR) 71-71.
143 - Y. E. YANG (KOR) 73-70, Lucas LEE (BRA) 72-71.
144 - KIM Dae-hyun (KOR) 71-73, LEE Seong-ho (KOR) 74-70, RYU Hyun-woo (KOR) 75-69, HWANG In-choon (KOR) 74-70, KANG Wook-soon (KOR) 73-71.
145 - David OH (USA) 73-72, PARK Hyun-bin (KOR) 73-72, SONG Ki-joon (KOR) 74-71, Rory HIE (INA) 73-72, LEE Sang-hee (KOR) 77-68.
146 - PARK Jun-sub (KOR) 77-69, CHAE Bum-geun (KOR) 72-74, CHOI Jin-ho (KOR) 74-72, LEE Ki-sang (KOR) 73-73, KIM Byung-jun (KOR) 71-75.
Rain Stops Play On Day 2 Of Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open
Jakarta, October 19 - Malaysian amateur Michelle Koh and South African Connie Chen took the clubhouse lead today in the Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open before lightning stopped play for the day.
Koh fired an impressive second round four-under-par 68 while Chen carded a 69 at Palm Hill Golf Club.
They lead the Ladies Asian Golf Tour event on one-under-par 143 although three players on the course top the leaderboard.
India’s Smriti Mehra, the first round leader, and another Malaysian amateur Kelly Tan are three-under for the tournament after 12 holes.
Thailand’s Patcharachuta Kongkapan, playing in the same group, is two under.
Played was stopped at 2.45 allowing Koh and Chen to steal the limelight.
Koh, aged 22, graduated from Campbell University in North Carolina in May and intends to spend A year working hard on her game before deciding whether to turn professional.
After a strong round made up of five birdies and a bogey it looks as if she is on course for a promising career.
“I didn’t expect to play so well today. I was just focusing on swinging the club well. I have been working really hard with my dad so it’s great it has paid off,” said Koh.
Chen, who turns 20 next week, was ranked the number one amateur in South Africa when she turned professional in 2010. Last year was his first full season on the Ladies European Tour.
She birdied three out of the last five holes to catch Koh and give herself a great chance of claiming her maiden professional title.
Play will resume at 7am tomorrow with veteran Mehra hoping to maintain her consistent play.
“I am level par for my round today so I am playing comfortably but it is frustrating to have to stop. It is nice to be leading though and tomorrow should be an exciting day,” said the 40-year-old.
The glamorous Inez Putri, winner of this year’s Miss Indonesia title who is competing as an amateur, improved on her first round 79 by carding a 76.
It is proving to be an impressive tournament for the 23-year-old from Bali who has hardly played golf this year due to other commitments which included taking part in Miss World in June.
She is tied with the country’s only lady professional Lidya Ivana Jaya who has carded the same scores.
The Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open features 84 players. The tournament is played over 54 holes with no cut being made.
It is the most lucrative women’s national Open in South East Asia with the winner earning a cheque for US$30,000.
Completed second round scores:
143 – Michelle Koh (MAS) (a) 75 68, Connie Chen (RSA) 74 69
145 – Numa Gulyanamitta (THA) 74 71, Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) 74 71
146 – Alison Whitaker (AUS) 76 70, Vani Kapoor (IND) 76 70, Kusuma Meechai (THA) 73 73
147 – Anil Abu Bakar Johani (MAS) 75 72, Tiffany Tavee (USA) 75 72, Lim In-hong (KOR) 74 73, Tang Thi Nhung (VNM) 73 74
Selected:
149 – Rebecca Hudson (ENG) 76 73
151 – Stacey Keating (AUS) 76 75
152 – Nikki Garrett (AUS) 79 73
155 – Inez Putri (INA) (a) 79 76
Koh fired an impressive second round four-under-par 68 while Chen carded a 69 at Palm Hill Golf Club.
They lead the Ladies Asian Golf Tour event on one-under-par 143 although three players on the course top the leaderboard.
India’s Smriti Mehra, the first round leader, and another Malaysian amateur Kelly Tan are three-under for the tournament after 12 holes.
Thailand’s Patcharachuta Kongkapan, playing in the same group, is two under.
Played was stopped at 2.45 allowing Koh and Chen to steal the limelight.
Koh, aged 22, graduated from Campbell University in North Carolina in May and intends to spend A year working hard on her game before deciding whether to turn professional.
After a strong round made up of five birdies and a bogey it looks as if she is on course for a promising career.
“I didn’t expect to play so well today. I was just focusing on swinging the club well. I have been working really hard with my dad so it’s great it has paid off,” said Koh.
Chen, who turns 20 next week, was ranked the number one amateur in South Africa when she turned professional in 2010. Last year was his first full season on the Ladies European Tour.
She birdied three out of the last five holes to catch Koh and give herself a great chance of claiming her maiden professional title.
Play will resume at 7am tomorrow with veteran Mehra hoping to maintain her consistent play.
“I am level par for my round today so I am playing comfortably but it is frustrating to have to stop. It is nice to be leading though and tomorrow should be an exciting day,” said the 40-year-old.
The glamorous Inez Putri, winner of this year’s Miss Indonesia title who is competing as an amateur, improved on her first round 79 by carding a 76.
It is proving to be an impressive tournament for the 23-year-old from Bali who has hardly played golf this year due to other commitments which included taking part in Miss World in June.
She is tied with the country’s only lady professional Lidya Ivana Jaya who has carded the same scores.
The Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open features 84 players. The tournament is played over 54 holes with no cut being made.
It is the most lucrative women’s national Open in South East Asia with the winner earning a cheque for US$30,000.
Completed second round scores:
143 – Michelle Koh (MAS) (a) 75 68, Connie Chen (RSA) 74 69
145 – Numa Gulyanamitta (THA) 74 71, Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) 74 71
146 – Alison Whitaker (AUS) 76 70, Vani Kapoor (IND) 76 70, Kusuma Meechai (THA) 73 73
147 – Anil Abu Bakar Johani (MAS) 75 72, Tiffany Tavee (USA) 75 72, Lim In-hong (KOR) 74 73, Tang Thi Nhung (VNM) 73 74
Selected:
149 – Rebecca Hudson (ENG) 76 73
151 – Stacey Keating (AUS) 76 75
152 – Nikki Garrett (AUS) 79 73
155 – Inez Putri (INA) (a) 79 76
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Nongsa Cup 2012 At Palm Springs And Tering Bay Batam
On 4 and 5 November 2012 the Nongsa Cup once again will be played on Batam Island. This 2-day tournament will be played over 36 holes on 2 courses, Tering Bay Golf & Country Club and Palm Springs Golf & Beach Resort.
There are many prizes to be won, including a top prize of S$2,012 in cash and Rp 400,000,000 hole-in-one prize.
The tournament format is 2 x 18 holes stroke play.
Registration fee is IDR 1,800,000 per person (twin sharing), including:
For bookings or more information please contact:
Batam View Beach Resort:reservation@batamview.com
Tel. +62 778 761740 Toll free 800 6211121
Tering Bay Golf Resort:sales@teringbay.com.sg
Tel. +65 68767890, +62 778 761818
Palm Springs Golf & Beach Resort:booking@palmsprings.com.sg
Tel. +65 62761027, +62 778 761219
Turi Beach:reservations@turibeach.com
Tel. +62 778 761080
There are many prizes to be won, including a top prize of S$2,012 in cash and Rp 400,000,000 hole-in-one prize.
The tournament format is 2 x 18 holes stroke play.
Registration fee is IDR 1,800,000 per person (twin sharing), including:
- Transfer airport/ferry-Club-Hotel vv
- 2x 18 holes green fee (Tering Bay & Palm Springs)
- Buggy & caddy (twin sharing)
- Accomodation at Turi Beach Resort or Batam View Beach Resort (additional $20nett/room/night)
- 2x Lunch
- 1x Poolside BBQ Dinner
- Goodie bag
- Prizes and Lucky Draw
- Live entertainment
For bookings or more information please contact:
Batam View Beach Resort:reservation@batamview.com
Tel. +62 778 761740 Toll free 800 6211121
Tering Bay Golf Resort:sales@teringbay.com.sg
Tel. +65 68767890, +62 778 761818
Palm Springs Golf & Beach Resort:booking@palmsprings.com.sg
Tel. +65 62761027, +62 778 761219
Turi Beach:reservations@turibeach.com
Tel. +62 778 761080
Kang Leads, Rory Hie Trails By 5 Shots At Kolon Korea Open
Cheonan, Korea, Oct 18 - Korean Tour regular Kang Kyung-nam went on a birdie blitz on Thursday en-route to a three-under par 68 and a two-stroke lead in the first round of OneAsia's Kolon Korea Open.
Kang had just 24 putts around the tricky Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course, around 85 kms (50 miles) south of the capital, to stand two shots clear of American Garrett Sapp.
Play was suspended due to bad light with five groups still to finish, but none had a realistic chance of catching the leader.
Kang, 28, has had two top-three finishes in OneAsia events this season -- and won twice on the Korea Tour last year -- but is desperate to do well in the 55th edition of the country's National Open Championship, which boasts a purse of one billion won (around US$900,000).
"This is the event that Korean players want to win more than any other," he said after a round that boasted seven birdies offset by four bogeys.
"Some great players have won this event, so it would be great to match them."
Sapp, a OneAsia Q-School graduate, has hit a purple patch since a blistering seven-under par 65 in the final round of the the Charity High1 Resort Open last month.v He finished joint fourth at last week's Nanshan China Masters and has roared up the Order of Merit to 11th place with earnings of US$84,376.47 -- probably guaranteeing his card for next year.
"I think it is a mental thing," he said. "Playing well gives you confidence, and confidence makes you play better."
Only two players have broken par in an opening round marked by some very tricky pin positions.
In joint third place at level par are Koreans Choi Ho-sung, Suk Jong-yul, Kim Byung-jun and Kim Dae-hyun, and American Hong "Charles" Chang-kyu.
American Rickie Fowler won the tournament in 2011 after an epic tussle with world number one Rory McIlroy, and this year's field is packed with young talent and experienced old hands -- including a slew of PGA Tour regulars.
Japan's Ryo Ishikawa and Korea's Noh Seiung-yul, both aged 21 and now playing in the U.S., drew the biggest crowd around the 6,605-metre (7,225-yard) course -- including scores of adoring female fans.
Ishikawa, a nine-time winner on the Japan tour, said the pin positions had been "brutal" after using his putter 31 times before signing for a 75.
"Wow, it was very difficult. It feels like some of the holes are on slopes," he said.
Noh was two shots better with the same number of putts.
Also struggling on the greens was 14-year-old America-based Chinese amateur Andy Zhang, who in June became the youngest person ever to qualify for the U.S. Open.
Zhang made the turn at seven over par, but settled his nerves to finish the next nine level, with two birdies and two bogeys.
Indonesia's number one golfer Rory Hie scored an eagle on the 5th hole and a birdie on 18, but added to 5 bogeys he still ended at 2 over par 73 for a share of 16th place.
Even previous winners of the tournament battled on Thursday.
Two-time champion Bae Sang-moon, a runner-up on the U.S. PGA Tour this year, shot a 79 that included a triple-bogey on the par-five eighth, while Y.E. Yang was two over despite holing a green-side bunker shot for eagle on the same hole.
"I didn't even see it go in," said Yang, Asia's first Major winner, who lost out in a dramatic five-hole sudden-death play-off to China's Liang Wenchong at last week's Nanshan China Masters.
Scores after round 1 of the Kolon Korea Open being played at the par 71, 6,605-metre (7,225- yard) Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course (a- denotes amateur):
68 - KANG Kyung-nam (KOR).
70 - Garrett SAPP (USA).
71 - CHOI Ho-sung (KOR), SUK Jong-yul (KOR), KIM Byung-jun (KOR), KIM Dae-hyun (KOR), HONG Chang-kyu (USA).
72 - Lucas LEE (BRA), PARK Ju-hyuk (KOR), KIM Do-hoon 753 (KOR), Kalem RICHARDSON (AUS), KIM Dae-sub (KOR), CHAE Bum-geun (KOR), YOON Jung-ho (KOR).
73 - MOON Kyong-jun (KOR), KANG Wook-soon (KOR), LEE Ki-sang (KOR), NOH Seung-yul (KOR), Rory HIE (INA), Y. E. YANG (KOR), LEE Kee-dae (USA), David OH (USA), Wisut ARTJANAWAT (THA), MAENG Dong-seop (KOR), BAE Hee-chan (KOR).
Kang had just 24 putts around the tricky Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course, around 85 kms (50 miles) south of the capital, to stand two shots clear of American Garrett Sapp.
Play was suspended due to bad light with five groups still to finish, but none had a realistic chance of catching the leader.
Kang, 28, has had two top-three finishes in OneAsia events this season -- and won twice on the Korea Tour last year -- but is desperate to do well in the 55th edition of the country's National Open Championship, which boasts a purse of one billion won (around US$900,000).
"This is the event that Korean players want to win more than any other," he said after a round that boasted seven birdies offset by four bogeys.
"Some great players have won this event, so it would be great to match them."
Sapp, a OneAsia Q-School graduate, has hit a purple patch since a blistering seven-under par 65 in the final round of the the Charity High1 Resort Open last month.v He finished joint fourth at last week's Nanshan China Masters and has roared up the Order of Merit to 11th place with earnings of US$84,376.47 -- probably guaranteeing his card for next year.
"I think it is a mental thing," he said. "Playing well gives you confidence, and confidence makes you play better."
Only two players have broken par in an opening round marked by some very tricky pin positions.
In joint third place at level par are Koreans Choi Ho-sung, Suk Jong-yul, Kim Byung-jun and Kim Dae-hyun, and American Hong "Charles" Chang-kyu.
American Rickie Fowler won the tournament in 2011 after an epic tussle with world number one Rory McIlroy, and this year's field is packed with young talent and experienced old hands -- including a slew of PGA Tour regulars.
Japan's Ryo Ishikawa and Korea's Noh Seiung-yul, both aged 21 and now playing in the U.S., drew the biggest crowd around the 6,605-metre (7,225-yard) course -- including scores of adoring female fans.
Ishikawa, a nine-time winner on the Japan tour, said the pin positions had been "brutal" after using his putter 31 times before signing for a 75.
"Wow, it was very difficult. It feels like some of the holes are on slopes," he said.
Noh was two shots better with the same number of putts.
Also struggling on the greens was 14-year-old America-based Chinese amateur Andy Zhang, who in June became the youngest person ever to qualify for the U.S. Open.
Zhang made the turn at seven over par, but settled his nerves to finish the next nine level, with two birdies and two bogeys.
Indonesia's number one golfer Rory Hie scored an eagle on the 5th hole and a birdie on 18, but added to 5 bogeys he still ended at 2 over par 73 for a share of 16th place.
Even previous winners of the tournament battled on Thursday.
Two-time champion Bae Sang-moon, a runner-up on the U.S. PGA Tour this year, shot a 79 that included a triple-bogey on the par-five eighth, while Y.E. Yang was two over despite holing a green-side bunker shot for eagle on the same hole.
"I didn't even see it go in," said Yang, Asia's first Major winner, who lost out in a dramatic five-hole sudden-death play-off to China's Liang Wenchong at last week's Nanshan China Masters.
Scores after round 1 of the Kolon Korea Open being played at the par 71, 6,605-metre (7,225- yard) Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course (a- denotes amateur):
68 - KANG Kyung-nam (KOR).
70 - Garrett SAPP (USA).
71 - CHOI Ho-sung (KOR), SUK Jong-yul (KOR), KIM Byung-jun (KOR), KIM Dae-hyun (KOR), HONG Chang-kyu (USA).
72 - Lucas LEE (BRA), PARK Ju-hyuk (KOR), KIM Do-hoon 753 (KOR), Kalem RICHARDSON (AUS), KIM Dae-sub (KOR), CHAE Bum-geun (KOR), YOON Jung-ho (KOR).
73 - MOON Kyong-jun (KOR), KANG Wook-soon (KOR), LEE Ki-sang (KOR), NOH Seung-yul (KOR), Rory HIE (INA), Y. E. YANG (KOR), LEE Kee-dae (USA), David OH (USA), Wisut ARTJANAWAT (THA), MAENG Dong-seop (KOR), BAE Hee-chan (KOR).
Veteran Mehra Claims First Day Honiurs In Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open
Jakarta, October 18 - Smriti Mehra showed why she has long been the flag bearer of Indian women’s golf by charging to the top of the leaderboard on the opening day of the US$200,000 Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open.
Mehra shot a three-under-par 69 at Palm Hill Golf Club in the ninth leg on this year’s Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAGT).
Thailand’s Thidapa Suwannapura, Patcharachuta Kongkapan, Malaysian amateur Kelly Tan, Walailak Satarak from the United States, and Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Yu-ling all shot 71 to tie for second place.
Amateur Inez Putri, the 2012 Miss Indonesia winner taking time out from her busy schedule, shot a respectable 79 and is in a tie for 55th position.
Mehra, aged 40, made three birdies in a row from the second to seize the lead. Another birdie on 11 moved her to four under before she made her only bogey of the day on the following hole.
Said Mehra: “I hit the ball the same on both nines but the putts seemed to drop on the front. I kept it steady and slow and got it done.”
The Indian, a powerful hitter, has spent much of her career playing on the US LPGA Tour and has also triumphed twice on the Futures Tour in the States.
“I have been several times to Indonesia and I love it here. I love playing in Southeast Asian countries. I have always supported Asian golf. I played on the LPGA Tour for about 12 years but I now play on the Ladies European Tour and I always come back to play in Asia,” said Mehra.
She won the Women’s Malaysian Open in 2002 and after a good start this week she is well placed to secure another title in the region.
Mehra was in the first group out and was paired with 13-year-old amateur Julia Alhemoud from Kuwait, who returned a 94.
“I am sure she had a good time but she was upset with the way she played. She walked off saying it was the worst round but I said it doesn’t matter as you are 13 years old and I am 40 so you know you have 27 years on me,” said Mehra.
When asked why women’s golf in India has not developed as rapidly as the men’s game she commented: “We started a women’s pro organization in 2005 and I was the only professional then. Today we have 20 which is not bad. We only had about eight amateurs then but we have about 500 today.”
Of the players hot on her heels in second place Thidapa could be one to watch.
The 19-year-old recently secured her US LPGA Tour card and finished third last week in the South Taiwan Open on the LAGT.
Thidapa burst through into the professional game last year by winning the ladies title at the Singha Pattaya Open, her first victory as a member of the paid ranks.
Last month she won the Vidalia Championship in Georgia. The event is part of the Symetra Tour which sees the top-10 players at the end of the season earn their cards for the US LPGA Tour. The US$16,500 she received for winning moved her to fourth on the money list and that is how she finished the year to pave the way for an exciting 2013.
There was huge pressure on Putri, a top amateur, as she was paired with Australian star Stacey Keating – fresh from back-to-back titles on the Ladies European Tour.
The other player in their group Nontaya Srisawang from Thailand, who claimed the Ladies Thailand Open in February, did not start as she was laid low by a fever.
Putri showed the kind of calmness that carried her to victory in Miss Indonesia in April and finished only three shots behind Keating.
The 23-year-old from Bali made one birdie and eight bogeys.
She said: “I haven’t played much golf in five months so I am happy with my score. It was very warm and the golf course is very tight with small fast greens so it is not easy. I hope to improve on my score each round.”
The Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open features 84 players. The tournament is played over 54 holes with no cut being made.
It is the most lucrative women’s national Open in South East Asia with the winner earning a cheque for US$30,000.
Leading first round scores, Par 72, (a) denotes amateur:
69 – Smriti Mehra (IND)
71 – Patcharachuta Kongkapan (THA), Kelly Tan (MAS) (a), Walailak Satarak (THA), Thidapa Suwannapura (THA), Hsieh Yu-ling (TWN)
72 – Jarupron Palakawong (THA), Dottie Ardina (PHI) (a), Tseng Hsiu-feng (TPE)
73 – Wannasari Sirisampant (THA), Aretha Pan (MAS) (a), Kurika Jang (THA), Sahra Hassan (WAL), Rodriguez Cyna (PHI) (a), Tang Thi Nhung (VNM), Russamee Gulyanamitta (THA), Samantha Richdale (CAN), Kusuma Meechai (THA)
74 – Connie Chen (RSA), Yoshee Yoshida (JPN), Chu Yu-an (TPE), Lim In-hong (KOR), Ornthana Chuenarraom (THA), Titiya Plucksataporn (THA), Numa Gulyanamitta (THA)
Selected:
76 – Stacey Keating (AUS), Rebecca Hudson (ENG)
79 – Inez Putri (INA) (a), Lidya Ivana Jaya (INA), Nikki Garrett (AUS)
Mehra shot a three-under-par 69 at Palm Hill Golf Club in the ninth leg on this year’s Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAGT).
Thailand’s Thidapa Suwannapura, Patcharachuta Kongkapan, Malaysian amateur Kelly Tan, Walailak Satarak from the United States, and Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Yu-ling all shot 71 to tie for second place.
Amateur Inez Putri, the 2012 Miss Indonesia winner taking time out from her busy schedule, shot a respectable 79 and is in a tie for 55th position.
Mehra, aged 40, made three birdies in a row from the second to seize the lead. Another birdie on 11 moved her to four under before she made her only bogey of the day on the following hole.
Said Mehra: “I hit the ball the same on both nines but the putts seemed to drop on the front. I kept it steady and slow and got it done.”
The Indian, a powerful hitter, has spent much of her career playing on the US LPGA Tour and has also triumphed twice on the Futures Tour in the States.
“I have been several times to Indonesia and I love it here. I love playing in Southeast Asian countries. I have always supported Asian golf. I played on the LPGA Tour for about 12 years but I now play on the Ladies European Tour and I always come back to play in Asia,” said Mehra.
She won the Women’s Malaysian Open in 2002 and after a good start this week she is well placed to secure another title in the region.
Mehra was in the first group out and was paired with 13-year-old amateur Julia Alhemoud from Kuwait, who returned a 94.
“I am sure she had a good time but she was upset with the way she played. She walked off saying it was the worst round but I said it doesn’t matter as you are 13 years old and I am 40 so you know you have 27 years on me,” said Mehra.
When asked why women’s golf in India has not developed as rapidly as the men’s game she commented: “We started a women’s pro organization in 2005 and I was the only professional then. Today we have 20 which is not bad. We only had about eight amateurs then but we have about 500 today.”
Of the players hot on her heels in second place Thidapa could be one to watch.
The 19-year-old recently secured her US LPGA Tour card and finished third last week in the South Taiwan Open on the LAGT.
Thidapa burst through into the professional game last year by winning the ladies title at the Singha Pattaya Open, her first victory as a member of the paid ranks.
Last month she won the Vidalia Championship in Georgia. The event is part of the Symetra Tour which sees the top-10 players at the end of the season earn their cards for the US LPGA Tour. The US$16,500 she received for winning moved her to fourth on the money list and that is how she finished the year to pave the way for an exciting 2013.
There was huge pressure on Putri, a top amateur, as she was paired with Australian star Stacey Keating – fresh from back-to-back titles on the Ladies European Tour.
The other player in their group Nontaya Srisawang from Thailand, who claimed the Ladies Thailand Open in February, did not start as she was laid low by a fever.
Putri showed the kind of calmness that carried her to victory in Miss Indonesia in April and finished only three shots behind Keating.
The 23-year-old from Bali made one birdie and eight bogeys.
She said: “I haven’t played much golf in five months so I am happy with my score. It was very warm and the golf course is very tight with small fast greens so it is not easy. I hope to improve on my score each round.”
The Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open features 84 players. The tournament is played over 54 holes with no cut being made.
It is the most lucrative women’s national Open in South East Asia with the winner earning a cheque for US$30,000.
Leading first round scores, Par 72, (a) denotes amateur:
69 – Smriti Mehra (IND)
71 – Patcharachuta Kongkapan (THA), Kelly Tan (MAS) (a), Walailak Satarak (THA), Thidapa Suwannapura (THA), Hsieh Yu-ling (TWN)
72 – Jarupron Palakawong (THA), Dottie Ardina (PHI) (a), Tseng Hsiu-feng (TPE)
73 – Wannasari Sirisampant (THA), Aretha Pan (MAS) (a), Kurika Jang (THA), Sahra Hassan (WAL), Rodriguez Cyna (PHI) (a), Tang Thi Nhung (VNM), Russamee Gulyanamitta (THA), Samantha Richdale (CAN), Kusuma Meechai (THA)
74 – Connie Chen (RSA), Yoshee Yoshida (JPN), Chu Yu-an (TPE), Lim In-hong (KOR), Ornthana Chuenarraom (THA), Titiya Plucksataporn (THA), Numa Gulyanamitta (THA)
Selected:
76 – Stacey Keating (AUS), Rebecca Hudson (ENG)
79 – Inez Putri (INA) (a), Lidya Ivana Jaya (INA), Nikki Garrett (AUS)
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Miss Indonesia Inez To Grace Fairways Of Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open
Jakarta, October 17 - Eye catching Inez Putri, winner of Miss Indonesia 2012, will replace crown and gown with golf clubs and caddie to compete with conviction in this week’s Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open, which starts Thursday.
The 23-year-old, a top amateur but short of practice due to her Miss Indonesia commitments, will line up alongside a host of in-form professionals in the ninth leg of this year’s Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAGT).
Boasting prize money of US$200,000 the tournament tees-off on Thursday at Palm Hill Golf Club, just outside Jakarta, and also features a number of top players from the Ladies European Tour (LET).
Putri has been paired in the opening round with Australian star Stacey Keating, fresh from back-to-back LET wins, and Nontaya Srisawang from Thailand, who claimed the Ladies Thailand Open in February.
“I am very nervous as I have hardly played for the last five months. I just hope I don’t finish last,” said Putri.
“I have had a lot to do since winning Miss Indonesia in April including competing in Miss World. I am just aiming to have fun this week and learn from some of the best players.”
She is the first Balinese ever to win Miss Indonesia and she also made it into the top-13 at this year’s Miss World in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China.
Putri is the youngest person ever to compete for the national ladies golf team and won gold and silver medals in 2004 in Indonesia’s national championships. In 2010 she claimed the ladies Singapore amateur championship.
Her golf career is on hold this year but she plans to focus on it next season.
“There is so much I want to do with golf. I really want to help promote the sport in our country and show that it is not a game only played by wealthy people. I also want to get involved in television and host a golf show. However, playing is what I love and I would still like to turn professional in a couple of years,” she said.
The Indonesian certainly will be able to learn from the best this week as playing partner Keating is currently the hottest player on the LET.
Two weeks ago the 26-year-old completed back-to-back victories in Europe to position herself as one of the favourites heading into this week’s event.
Keating claimed the French Open by one stroke shortly after having triumphed in the Tenerife Open de España Femenino.
The victory in Spain came in a sudden-death play-off and was her first success in Europe. Her breakthrough wins as a professional followed on from an impressive amateur career which saw her ranked top female amateur in Australia in 2010.
Nontaya will also be one to watch as she is currently third on the LAGT Money List and is eyeing top spot.
Said Nontaya: "Last night I was down with a high fever and I pulled out of the Pro-Am today. I had no appetite and took a couple of fever tablets to stabilise my high temperature. I guess I will be alright for tomorrow's start of play. I will play even if I'm running a slight fever.”
The professional from Chiang Mai has earned US$26,703 this year, which is US$10,497 less than leader Yu Pei-lin of Chinese Taipei. Yu is not playing this week and with four more events remaining the Thai has a chance to finish first.
“Yesterday I played well in the practice round. I'm still excited about playing tomorrow unless the fever knocks me out. But I'll certainly play if the fever is low," she said confidently.
Thailand’s Tiranan Yoopan, who triumphed in last month’s Technology Cup in Taiwan on the LAGT, and England’s Rebecca Hudson and Nikki Garrett from Australia, who boast multiple LET titles, are also competing this week.
Other fancied starters include Thailand’s Thidapa Suwannapura, who recently secured her US LPGA Tour card, Titiya Plucksataporn and Piyathida Ployumsri, Korean Lee Eun-young, South African Connie Chen, Australia’s Alison Whitaker, Kirsty Fisher from England and France’s Cassandra Kirkland.
The Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open is the most lucrative women’s national Open in South East Asia with the winner earning a cheque for US$30,000.
The 23-year-old, a top amateur but short of practice due to her Miss Indonesia commitments, will line up alongside a host of in-form professionals in the ninth leg of this year’s Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAGT).
Boasting prize money of US$200,000 the tournament tees-off on Thursday at Palm Hill Golf Club, just outside Jakarta, and also features a number of top players from the Ladies European Tour (LET).
Putri has been paired in the opening round with Australian star Stacey Keating, fresh from back-to-back LET wins, and Nontaya Srisawang from Thailand, who claimed the Ladies Thailand Open in February.
“I am very nervous as I have hardly played for the last five months. I just hope I don’t finish last,” said Putri.
“I have had a lot to do since winning Miss Indonesia in April including competing in Miss World. I am just aiming to have fun this week and learn from some of the best players.”
She is the first Balinese ever to win Miss Indonesia and she also made it into the top-13 at this year’s Miss World in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China.
Putri is the youngest person ever to compete for the national ladies golf team and won gold and silver medals in 2004 in Indonesia’s national championships. In 2010 she claimed the ladies Singapore amateur championship.
Her golf career is on hold this year but she plans to focus on it next season.
“There is so much I want to do with golf. I really want to help promote the sport in our country and show that it is not a game only played by wealthy people. I also want to get involved in television and host a golf show. However, playing is what I love and I would still like to turn professional in a couple of years,” she said.
The Indonesian certainly will be able to learn from the best this week as playing partner Keating is currently the hottest player on the LET.
Two weeks ago the 26-year-old completed back-to-back victories in Europe to position herself as one of the favourites heading into this week’s event.
Keating claimed the French Open by one stroke shortly after having triumphed in the Tenerife Open de España Femenino.
The victory in Spain came in a sudden-death play-off and was her first success in Europe. Her breakthrough wins as a professional followed on from an impressive amateur career which saw her ranked top female amateur in Australia in 2010.
Nontaya will also be one to watch as she is currently third on the LAGT Money List and is eyeing top spot.
Said Nontaya: "Last night I was down with a high fever and I pulled out of the Pro-Am today. I had no appetite and took a couple of fever tablets to stabilise my high temperature. I guess I will be alright for tomorrow's start of play. I will play even if I'm running a slight fever.”
The professional from Chiang Mai has earned US$26,703 this year, which is US$10,497 less than leader Yu Pei-lin of Chinese Taipei. Yu is not playing this week and with four more events remaining the Thai has a chance to finish first.
“Yesterday I played well in the practice round. I'm still excited about playing tomorrow unless the fever knocks me out. But I'll certainly play if the fever is low," she said confidently.
Thailand’s Tiranan Yoopan, who triumphed in last month’s Technology Cup in Taiwan on the LAGT, and England’s Rebecca Hudson and Nikki Garrett from Australia, who boast multiple LET titles, are also competing this week.
Other fancied starters include Thailand’s Thidapa Suwannapura, who recently secured her US LPGA Tour card, Titiya Plucksataporn and Piyathida Ployumsri, Korean Lee Eun-young, South African Connie Chen, Australia’s Alison Whitaker, Kirsty Fisher from England and France’s Cassandra Kirkland.
The Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open is the most lucrative women’s national Open in South East Asia with the winner earning a cheque for US$30,000.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Liang Wins After Playoff, Rory Hie 8th At Nanshan China Masters
Nanshan, China, Oct. 14 - Home favourite Liang Wenchong drained a 12 foot birdie putt on the fifth hole of a sudden-death playoff to pip Korean Y.E. Yang at OneAsia's U.S. $1 million Nanshan China Masters on Sunday.
Yang fired a two-under-par fourth-round 69 to overnight leader Liang's 73 to leave both at eight under for the tournament, and they then matched each other shot-for-shot as they played the 18th five times in a bid to settle the match.
Neither player has won on any tour since claiming two OneAsia titles apiece in 2010, and for a while it looked as if Australian Aaron Townsend (72) might pip them both in a topsy-turvy final round.
But Townsend stuttered down the finish, and two bogeys in the last five holes saw him miss the playoff by a stroke.
"I'm very happy," Liang said after sinking his putt in fading light at the Nanshan International Golf Club's Danling course.
"I have never been involved in something like this. Thanks to Y.E. for making it so exciting."
Yang, who won the 2009 PGA Championship to become the first Major winner from Asia, said he was disappointed his final round charge didn't succeed, but added Liang was a worthy winner.
"I am a bit disappointed," he said. "It was very tiring to have to play five more holes, but Liang played good golf."
Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open Champion, was left to rue what might have been after a final-round 67 left him three shots off the pace in joint fourth place with Wang Jeun-hun of Korea and American Garrett Sapp, who both closed with 69s.
"There were a lot of birdie opportunities, but I just didn't make as many as I could have," the South African said. "It is a bit frustrating when I think of the missed opportunities on the first two days."
Meanwhile Indonesia's number one golfer Rory Hie scored a third successive round of 69 for a total score of 281 that put him in a share of 8th on the leaderboard. With this result he's now 10th on OneAsia's 2012 Order of Merit with earnings of $87,500.94.
Liang, who earned around U.S. $180,000 for his fourth victory on OneAsia, held or shared the lead from round one but started with a bogey and then doubled the seventh after hitting his tee-shot into a hazard, before clawing a shot back on the eighth.
Yang had two birdies in the first nine, and Townsend a birdie and a bogey, to see all three players in the final group make the turn at eight under.
"When I lost the lead I actually felt more relaxed," said Liang, who three-putted the 10th to fall a shot behind. "I played the back nine better -- especially the last few holes."
Townsend birdied the 11th to take the lead for the first time but gave one back on the 13th after finding a fairway bunker with his tee shot.
Both Yang and Liang birdied the 15th, but the turning point came a hole later when Townsend and Yang made bogeys and Liang scrambled a par from 15 feet to get back into the tournament.
Yang and Liang found the fairway with their drives on each of the five playoff holes, and it became a putting contest as they also made the green in regulation.
With the light fading, Liang drained his putt for a birdie to end his winless streak.
"Y.E. Yang is a good player, and I played the first two rounds with Louis, so I learned a lot by playing both of them," said Liang, who has drifted down the world rankings since finishing joint eighth at the 2010 PGA Championships in a year he won the OneAsia Order of Merit.
Scores after round 4 of the 2012 Nanshan China Masters being played at the par 71, 6,539-metre (7,151-yard) Nanshan International Golf Club's Danling course (a- denotes amateur):
276 - LIANG Wenchong (CHN) 68-67-68-73, Y. E. YANG (KOR) 71-68-68-69.
277 - Aaron TOWNSEND (AUS) 69-67-69-72.
279 - Louis OOSTHUIZEN (RSA) 71-72-69-67, WANG Jeung-hun (KOR) 69-71-70-69, Garrett SAPP (USA) 73-70-67-69.
280 - Michael HENDRY (NZL) 72-73-67-68.
281 - Steven JONES (AUS) 68-74-72-67, Rory HIE (INA) 74-69-69-69, Scott LAYCOCK (AUS) 70-71-70-70.
Yang fired a two-under-par fourth-round 69 to overnight leader Liang's 73 to leave both at eight under for the tournament, and they then matched each other shot-for-shot as they played the 18th five times in a bid to settle the match.
Neither player has won on any tour since claiming two OneAsia titles apiece in 2010, and for a while it looked as if Australian Aaron Townsend (72) might pip them both in a topsy-turvy final round.
But Townsend stuttered down the finish, and two bogeys in the last five holes saw him miss the playoff by a stroke.
"I'm very happy," Liang said after sinking his putt in fading light at the Nanshan International Golf Club's Danling course.
"I have never been involved in something like this. Thanks to Y.E. for making it so exciting."
Yang, who won the 2009 PGA Championship to become the first Major winner from Asia, said he was disappointed his final round charge didn't succeed, but added Liang was a worthy winner.
"I am a bit disappointed," he said. "It was very tiring to have to play five more holes, but Liang played good golf."
Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open Champion, was left to rue what might have been after a final-round 67 left him three shots off the pace in joint fourth place with Wang Jeun-hun of Korea and American Garrett Sapp, who both closed with 69s.
"There were a lot of birdie opportunities, but I just didn't make as many as I could have," the South African said. "It is a bit frustrating when I think of the missed opportunities on the first two days."
Meanwhile Indonesia's number one golfer Rory Hie scored a third successive round of 69 for a total score of 281 that put him in a share of 8th on the leaderboard. With this result he's now 10th on OneAsia's 2012 Order of Merit with earnings of $87,500.94.
Liang, who earned around U.S. $180,000 for his fourth victory on OneAsia, held or shared the lead from round one but started with a bogey and then doubled the seventh after hitting his tee-shot into a hazard, before clawing a shot back on the eighth.
Yang had two birdies in the first nine, and Townsend a birdie and a bogey, to see all three players in the final group make the turn at eight under.
"When I lost the lead I actually felt more relaxed," said Liang, who three-putted the 10th to fall a shot behind. "I played the back nine better -- especially the last few holes."
Townsend birdied the 11th to take the lead for the first time but gave one back on the 13th after finding a fairway bunker with his tee shot.
Both Yang and Liang birdied the 15th, but the turning point came a hole later when Townsend and Yang made bogeys and Liang scrambled a par from 15 feet to get back into the tournament.
Yang and Liang found the fairway with their drives on each of the five playoff holes, and it became a putting contest as they also made the green in regulation.
With the light fading, Liang drained his putt for a birdie to end his winless streak.
"Y.E. Yang is a good player, and I played the first two rounds with Louis, so I learned a lot by playing both of them," said Liang, who has drifted down the world rankings since finishing joint eighth at the 2010 PGA Championships in a year he won the OneAsia Order of Merit.
Scores after round 4 of the 2012 Nanshan China Masters being played at the par 71, 6,539-metre (7,151-yard) Nanshan International Golf Club's Danling course (a- denotes amateur):
276 - LIANG Wenchong (CHN) 68-67-68-73, Y. E. YANG (KOR) 71-68-68-69.
277 - Aaron TOWNSEND (AUS) 69-67-69-72.
279 - Louis OOSTHUIZEN (RSA) 71-72-69-67, WANG Jeung-hun (KOR) 69-71-70-69, Garrett SAPP (USA) 73-70-67-69.
280 - Michael HENDRY (NZL) 72-73-67-68.
281 - Steven JONES (AUS) 68-74-72-67, Rory HIE (INA) 74-69-69-69, Scott LAYCOCK (AUS) 70-71-70-70.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Liang Extends Lead, Hie Climbs Further At Nanshan China Masters
Nanshan, China, Oct. 13 - Overnight leader Liang Wenchong inched further ahead of the field with a three-under-par 68 in the third round of OneAsia's U.S. $1 million Nanshan China Masters on Saturday despite a charge by Major winners Y.E. Yang and Louis Oosthuizen.
Rounds of 68, 67 and 68 left the home favourite at 10 under par for the tournament, two strokes ahead of Australian Aaron Townsend (69), who nearly aced the 17th to stay in the hunt.
Korean Yang (68), birdied the last to book his place in the final group, four shots off the pace. In 2009, at the PGA Championship, he made up a two-shot final-round deficit against Tiger Woods to win by three and become Asia's first Major winner.
Liang, who led by one overnight, is looking for his first title since winning twice on OneAsia in 2010 and was reminded of Yang's comeback after his round on Saturday.
"The tournament is not finished yet and no-one knows what will happen, but when I play it is only me," he said.
"I will focus on my own game."
Players have found scoring tough on the Nanshan International Golf Club's 6,539-metre (7,151-yard) Danling course, but Yang refuses to concede defeat.
"It's a little disappointing that I couldn't cut into the lead, but I've still got one day," he said. "Nothing is impossible. I'll try my hardest as it's definitely worth a shot. I'm not going to say it can't be done."
Between him and Liang, however, he still has to get past Townsend, who struck the flag with his tee shot on the par-three 17th and saw his ball stop an inch from the hole.
"That felt like a great shot, but the good ones never go in," he said.
"I'm looking forward to the round tomorrow and playing with Liang again. He played really good, and I'm really impressed. So to play with him and Yang tomorrow will be great."
Oosthuizen admitted victory was probably out of reach despite shooting 69 on Saturday, his best round of the week. The 2010 Open champion burned the hole half a dozen times, but just couldn't get the putts to drop.
"At the moment … I'm probably playing for third place," said the South African, who is one under for the tournament in joint 11th place, together with Indonesian Rory Hie who also shot a 69 in the third round.
"I feel like I'm playing well enough to have a five- or six-under round. I hit it really well today and gave myself lots of opportunities for birdie, but just didn't make any."
American Garrett Sapp and Australian Mitchell Brown -- who won a car with a hole-in-one on Friday -- both shot 67s for the rounds of the day to close at three and two under respectively.
The tournament venue is also home to the China Golf Association's new state-of-the-art National Training Centre and 19 Chinese players made the cut -- the most ever in a OneAsia event -- including 16-year old amateur Chen Zi-hao, who is five over for the tournament.
Their progress is being closely followed by Zhang Lianwei, considered the father of professional golf in China, who is competing in Macau this week.
"Even though I'm in Macau, I am paying attention to the Nanshan China Masters -- especially as China's players are making good scores," he said on the country's Weibo social media site.
"We have so many high level tournaments now, providing players with opportunities to move up, and I am happy for that."
Scores after round 3 of the 2012 Nanshan China Masters being played at the par 71, 6,539-metre (7,151-yard) Nanshan International Golf Club's Danling course (a- denotes amateur):
203 - LIANG Wenchong (CHN) 68-67-68.
205 - Aaron TOWNSEND (AUS) 69-67-69.
207 - Y. E. YANG (KOR) 71-68-68.
210 - Garrett SAPP (USA) 73-70-67, David MCKENDRICK (AUS) 70-70-70, WANG Jeung-hun (KOR) 69-71-70.
211 - Mitchell BROWN (AUS) 73-71-67, Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 71-71-69, Scott LAYCOCK (AUS) 70-71-70, Jamie ARNOLD (AUS) 69-70-72.
212 - Michael HENDRY (NZL) 72-73-67, Rory HIE (INA) 74-69-69, Louis OOSTHUIZEN (RSA) 71-72-69, Gareth PADDISON (NZL) 70-69-73.
213 - Michael WRIGHT (AUS) 73-71-69, KIM Hyung-tae (KOR) 71-72-70, Andre STOLZ (AUS) 71-71-71.
Rounds of 68, 67 and 68 left the home favourite at 10 under par for the tournament, two strokes ahead of Australian Aaron Townsend (69), who nearly aced the 17th to stay in the hunt.
Korean Yang (68), birdied the last to book his place in the final group, four shots off the pace. In 2009, at the PGA Championship, he made up a two-shot final-round deficit against Tiger Woods to win by three and become Asia's first Major winner.
Liang, who led by one overnight, is looking for his first title since winning twice on OneAsia in 2010 and was reminded of Yang's comeback after his round on Saturday.
"The tournament is not finished yet and no-one knows what will happen, but when I play it is only me," he said.
"I will focus on my own game."
Players have found scoring tough on the Nanshan International Golf Club's 6,539-metre (7,151-yard) Danling course, but Yang refuses to concede defeat.
"It's a little disappointing that I couldn't cut into the lead, but I've still got one day," he said. "Nothing is impossible. I'll try my hardest as it's definitely worth a shot. I'm not going to say it can't be done."
Between him and Liang, however, he still has to get past Townsend, who struck the flag with his tee shot on the par-three 17th and saw his ball stop an inch from the hole.
"That felt like a great shot, but the good ones never go in," he said.
"I'm looking forward to the round tomorrow and playing with Liang again. He played really good, and I'm really impressed. So to play with him and Yang tomorrow will be great."
Oosthuizen admitted victory was probably out of reach despite shooting 69 on Saturday, his best round of the week. The 2010 Open champion burned the hole half a dozen times, but just couldn't get the putts to drop.
"At the moment … I'm probably playing for third place," said the South African, who is one under for the tournament in joint 11th place, together with Indonesian Rory Hie who also shot a 69 in the third round.
"I feel like I'm playing well enough to have a five- or six-under round. I hit it really well today and gave myself lots of opportunities for birdie, but just didn't make any."
American Garrett Sapp and Australian Mitchell Brown -- who won a car with a hole-in-one on Friday -- both shot 67s for the rounds of the day to close at three and two under respectively.
The tournament venue is also home to the China Golf Association's new state-of-the-art National Training Centre and 19 Chinese players made the cut -- the most ever in a OneAsia event -- including 16-year old amateur Chen Zi-hao, who is five over for the tournament.
Their progress is being closely followed by Zhang Lianwei, considered the father of professional golf in China, who is competing in Macau this week.
"Even though I'm in Macau, I am paying attention to the Nanshan China Masters -- especially as China's players are making good scores," he said on the country's Weibo social media site.
"We have so many high level tournaments now, providing players with opportunities to move up, and I am happy for that."
Scores after round 3 of the 2012 Nanshan China Masters being played at the par 71, 6,539-metre (7,151-yard) Nanshan International Golf Club's Danling course (a- denotes amateur):
203 - LIANG Wenchong (CHN) 68-67-68.
205 - Aaron TOWNSEND (AUS) 69-67-69.
207 - Y. E. YANG (KOR) 71-68-68.
210 - Garrett SAPP (USA) 73-70-67, David MCKENDRICK (AUS) 70-70-70, WANG Jeung-hun (KOR) 69-71-70.
211 - Mitchell BROWN (AUS) 73-71-67, Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 71-71-69, Scott LAYCOCK (AUS) 70-71-70, Jamie ARNOLD (AUS) 69-70-72.
212 - Michael HENDRY (NZL) 72-73-67, Rory HIE (INA) 74-69-69, Louis OOSTHUIZEN (RSA) 71-72-69, Gareth PADDISON (NZL) 70-69-73.
213 - Michael WRIGHT (AUS) 73-71-69, KIM Hyung-tae (KOR) 71-72-70, Andre STOLZ (AUS) 71-71-71.
Liang Grabs Control Of Nanshan China Masters, Hie Makes His Move
Nanshan, China, Oct. 12 - Local hero Liang Wenchong fired a brilliant four-under-par 67 on Friday to grab a one stroke lead over Australian Aaron Townsend after two rounds of OneAsia's U.S. $1 million Nanshan China Masters.
Players have found scoring tough on the Nanshan International Golf Club's 6,539 meter (7,151 yard) Danling course, but Liang has been imperious in pursuit of his first title since 2010 when he won twice on OneAsia en-route to claiming the Order of Merit.
He has experimented with putters, switched drivers and taken to the gym in a bid to recapture the sort of form that saw him set a course record with an eight-under 64 at the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in 2010 when he finished joint eighth.
He credited his management team with looking after his interests and allowing him to concentrate on his game.
"I reached my low point last year, but things are coming back," he said. "I'm 34 years old already, and I now have a good management team to service my needs.
"Now all I need to do is to try my best to live and practice like a player -- that's all -- and wait for the wins to come."
Townsend is also coming into form at the right time following a strong finish at the Charity High1 Resort Open last month, and after shooting 67 on Friday said he liked the tough layout.
"It's what I have been looking for all year -- a good strong golf course that plays a bit long," he said.
"It looks like I'll have some good partners to play with tomorrow, so I'll go out there and hopefully do the same thing again."
Yang said he was very happy with his round despite a bogey on his last, but reckons he will have to go on the offensive to catch Liang.
"Four strokes behind on this course is a big lead, so with that gap I will have to play more aggressively tomorrow," he said.
New Zealand's Gareth Paddison (69) moved into joint third place despite a three-putt from four feet giving him a double-bogey on the eighth.
"The eighth really sucks and it left a bad taste in the mouth, but if you offered me this score before I started I would have taken it."
Paddison won the Victoria PGA on the Australasian Tour earlier this year and thought it was the harbinger of things to come. He admits, however, he has not met his own expectations.
"I haven't kept going and its probably been a disappointing year," he said.
"I've just been making up the numbers really, so it's definitely time to push on. At least now I am going in the right direction."
He was joined at three under by Australian Jamie Arnold who fired a 70 to go with his opening 69.
Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open champion, headed straight to the range after his second round 72 left him one over for the tournament.
Three under at the turn, he missed a short birdie putt on the first -- playing the course back-to-front -- that seemed to take the wind out of his sails.
"It was very disappointing," he said. "I just finished poorly and hit a few very loose shots.
"I'm not saying the guys at three under don't have a chance, but I've certainly got a bit of work to do".
Australian Mitchell Brown, meanwhile, aced the 197-metre sixth hole with a sweetly struck five iron to win a VW car worth over U.S.$ 35,000.
"The pin was left and I aimed for the middle, but I pulled it a bit," Brown said of his first-ever tournament hole-in-one.
"It was a pretty good shot though … it pitched six foot short and then went in."
Indonesia's Rory Hie moved up the ranks after a second round of 69 put him in a share of 17th, 8 shots behind the leader.
Scores after round two of the 2012 Nanshan China Masters being played at the par 71, 7,151 yards Nanshan International Golf Club's Danling course (a- denotes amateur):
135 - LIANG Wenchong (CHN) 68-67.
136 - Aaron TOWNSEND (AUS) 69-67.
139 - Gareth PADDISON (NZL) 70-69, Y. E. YANG (KOR) 71-68, Jamie ARNOLD (AUS) 69-70.
140 - WANG Jeung-hun (KOR) 69-71, David MCKENDRICK (AUS) 70-70.
141 - Scott LAYCOCK (AUS) 70-71, Mark BROWN (NZL) 73-68, HUANG Tao (TPE) 75-66, Simon YATES (SCO) 71-70.
142 - OUYANG Zheng (CHN) 70-72, Steven JONES (AUS) 68-74, Andre STOLZ (AUS) 71-71, Chris CAMPBELL (AUS) 70-72, Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 71-71.
143 - Andrew MARTIN (AUS) 72-71, SU Dong (CHN) 73-70, Garrett SAPP (USA) 73-70, Louis OOSTHUIZEN (RSA) 71-72, PARK Sung-hyuk (KOR) 70-73, SONG Young-han (KOR) 69-74, Rory HIE (INA) 74-69, KIM Hyung-tae (KOR) 71-72, Douglas HOLLOWAY (NZL) 73-70.
Players have found scoring tough on the Nanshan International Golf Club's 6,539 meter (7,151 yard) Danling course, but Liang has been imperious in pursuit of his first title since 2010 when he won twice on OneAsia en-route to claiming the Order of Merit.
He has experimented with putters, switched drivers and taken to the gym in a bid to recapture the sort of form that saw him set a course record with an eight-under 64 at the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in 2010 when he finished joint eighth.
He credited his management team with looking after his interests and allowing him to concentrate on his game.
"I reached my low point last year, but things are coming back," he said. "I'm 34 years old already, and I now have a good management team to service my needs.
"Now all I need to do is to try my best to live and practice like a player -- that's all -- and wait for the wins to come."
Townsend is also coming into form at the right time following a strong finish at the Charity High1 Resort Open last month, and after shooting 67 on Friday said he liked the tough layout.
"It's what I have been looking for all year -- a good strong golf course that plays a bit long," he said.
"It looks like I'll have some good partners to play with tomorrow, so I'll go out there and hopefully do the same thing again."
Yang said he was very happy with his round despite a bogey on his last, but reckons he will have to go on the offensive to catch Liang.
"Four strokes behind on this course is a big lead, so with that gap I will have to play more aggressively tomorrow," he said.
New Zealand's Gareth Paddison (69) moved into joint third place despite a three-putt from four feet giving him a double-bogey on the eighth.
"The eighth really sucks and it left a bad taste in the mouth, but if you offered me this score before I started I would have taken it."
Paddison won the Victoria PGA on the Australasian Tour earlier this year and thought it was the harbinger of things to come. He admits, however, he has not met his own expectations.
"I haven't kept going and its probably been a disappointing year," he said.
"I've just been making up the numbers really, so it's definitely time to push on. At least now I am going in the right direction."
He was joined at three under by Australian Jamie Arnold who fired a 70 to go with his opening 69.
Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open champion, headed straight to the range after his second round 72 left him one over for the tournament.
Three under at the turn, he missed a short birdie putt on the first -- playing the course back-to-front -- that seemed to take the wind out of his sails.
"It was very disappointing," he said. "I just finished poorly and hit a few very loose shots.
"I'm not saying the guys at three under don't have a chance, but I've certainly got a bit of work to do".
Australian Mitchell Brown, meanwhile, aced the 197-metre sixth hole with a sweetly struck five iron to win a VW car worth over U.S.$ 35,000.
"The pin was left and I aimed for the middle, but I pulled it a bit," Brown said of his first-ever tournament hole-in-one.
"It was a pretty good shot though … it pitched six foot short and then went in."
Indonesia's Rory Hie moved up the ranks after a second round of 69 put him in a share of 17th, 8 shots behind the leader.
Scores after round two of the 2012 Nanshan China Masters being played at the par 71, 7,151 yards Nanshan International Golf Club's Danling course (a- denotes amateur):
135 - LIANG Wenchong (CHN) 68-67.
136 - Aaron TOWNSEND (AUS) 69-67.
139 - Gareth PADDISON (NZL) 70-69, Y. E. YANG (KOR) 71-68, Jamie ARNOLD (AUS) 69-70.
140 - WANG Jeung-hun (KOR) 69-71, David MCKENDRICK (AUS) 70-70.
141 - Scott LAYCOCK (AUS) 70-71, Mark BROWN (NZL) 73-68, HUANG Tao (TPE) 75-66, Simon YATES (SCO) 71-70.
142 - OUYANG Zheng (CHN) 70-72, Steven JONES (AUS) 68-74, Andre STOLZ (AUS) 71-71, Chris CAMPBELL (AUS) 70-72, Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 71-71.
143 - Andrew MARTIN (AUS) 72-71, SU Dong (CHN) 73-70, Garrett SAPP (USA) 73-70, Louis OOSTHUIZEN (RSA) 71-72, PARK Sung-hyuk (KOR) 70-73, SONG Young-han (KOR) 69-74, Rory HIE (INA) 74-69, KIM Hyung-tae (KOR) 71-72, Douglas HOLLOWAY (NZL) 73-70.
Red Hot Keating In Top Position In Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open
Jakarta, October 12 -
Australian golfer Stacey Keating, the player who receives the most attention in the Ladies European Tour, will compete next week at the Enjoy Jakarta Ladies Indonesia Open tournament.
Last week the 26-year-old managed to score consecutive victories in Europe, making herself one of the favorites for the title to appear in this leading women's golf tournament that will take place at the Palm Hill Golf Club.
The tournament with a total prize of US$200,000 is the ninth leg of the Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAGT) circuit, and will feature the best golfers in Asia, as well as some of the leading players from Europe.
Keating became one of the players to watch, as she has just won the French Open title with a one stroke margin, just a few days after she won the Open de España Femenino Tenerife.
Her victory in Spain after a sudden-death play-off is her first success in Europe. The win was a breakthrough for her as a professional golfer, following an impressively successful amateur career.
In 2010, Keating was ranked top female golfer in Australia, had won the Australian Amateur Championship, as well as the Tasmanian, Victorian and West Australian Stroke Play Championships. Keating also represented Australia at the World Amateur Championship.
In the same year Keating was one of two players who received a Karrie Webb Scholarship, the most prestigious scholarship, which gave her the opportunity to get private training mentoring from former world number one Webb.
Currently she is ranked fourth on Europe's money list with earnings of €147,045 or US$ 189,317, and no doubt she will be able to continue her brilliance in Asia.
Nontaya Srisawang and Tiranan Yoopan of Thailand, who were both winners on LAGT this season, and Rebecca Hudson from England, who has won three title on the Ladies European Tour, have also been confirmed to compete in this tournament.
Nontaya won the Thailand Ladies Open in February, while Tiranan won the Technology Cup in Taiwan last August.
Also competing are Lydia Ivana Jaya, an Indonesian golfer together with the beautiful Ines, Miss Indonesia 2012, who is also an amateur golfer and is currently Indonesia's top amateur player and one of the members of the national team.
Another welcome addition is Sahra Hassan, a young golfer from Wales who in May was named sportwoman of the year by the Muslim Women's Sport Foundation at Wembley Stadium.
Also participants include Titiya and Piyathida of Thailand, Lee Eun-young of Korea, Connie Chen from South Africa, Alison Whitaker of Australia, Kirsty Fisher of England and Cassandra Kirkland of France.
A total of 84 players will compete in three rounds with no elimination. "We are very pleased to welcome the return of the Ladies Asian Golf Tour in Indonesia for the first time since 2010, and most importantly, we came back with good quality. We promise a competitive tournament with the presence of golfers from Asia and Europe," said Koichi Kato, President and Commissioner of the Ladies Asian Golf Tour.
The Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAGT) launched in 2005 was formerly known as the Kasaido Ladies Asian Golf Circuit in 2003.
Enjoy Jakarta has sponsored the Indonesia Open golf tournament for men since 2005, and sponsoring the Ladies Indonesia Open golf tournament is an addition to their sponsorship program.
The Ladies Indonesia Open was first held in 1987 when Fusako Nagata of Japan won the trophy. Other famous winners include Lisa Hacney from England in 1995 and Corinne Dibnah from Australia in 1996.
The tournament can be watched on television with coverage on ESPN Star Sports in Asia Pacific and the One World Sports in the United States where they will air one hour highlights three times running.
Last week the 26-year-old managed to score consecutive victories in Europe, making herself one of the favorites for the title to appear in this leading women's golf tournament that will take place at the Palm Hill Golf Club.
The tournament with a total prize of US$200,000 is the ninth leg of the Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAGT) circuit, and will feature the best golfers in Asia, as well as some of the leading players from Europe.
Keating became one of the players to watch, as she has just won the French Open title with a one stroke margin, just a few days after she won the Open de España Femenino Tenerife.
Her victory in Spain after a sudden-death play-off is her first success in Europe. The win was a breakthrough for her as a professional golfer, following an impressively successful amateur career.
In 2010, Keating was ranked top female golfer in Australia, had won the Australian Amateur Championship, as well as the Tasmanian, Victorian and West Australian Stroke Play Championships. Keating also represented Australia at the World Amateur Championship.
In the same year Keating was one of two players who received a Karrie Webb Scholarship, the most prestigious scholarship, which gave her the opportunity to get private training mentoring from former world number one Webb.
Currently she is ranked fourth on Europe's money list with earnings of €147,045 or US$ 189,317, and no doubt she will be able to continue her brilliance in Asia.
Nontaya Srisawang and Tiranan Yoopan of Thailand, who were both winners on LAGT this season, and Rebecca Hudson from England, who has won three title on the Ladies European Tour, have also been confirmed to compete in this tournament.
Nontaya won the Thailand Ladies Open in February, while Tiranan won the Technology Cup in Taiwan last August.
Also competing are Lydia Ivana Jaya, an Indonesian golfer together with the beautiful Ines, Miss Indonesia 2012, who is also an amateur golfer and is currently Indonesia's top amateur player and one of the members of the national team.
Another welcome addition is Sahra Hassan, a young golfer from Wales who in May was named sportwoman of the year by the Muslim Women's Sport Foundation at Wembley Stadium.
Also participants include Titiya and Piyathida of Thailand, Lee Eun-young of Korea, Connie Chen from South Africa, Alison Whitaker of Australia, Kirsty Fisher of England and Cassandra Kirkland of France.
A total of 84 players will compete in three rounds with no elimination. "We are very pleased to welcome the return of the Ladies Asian Golf Tour in Indonesia for the first time since 2010, and most importantly, we came back with good quality. We promise a competitive tournament with the presence of golfers from Asia and Europe," said Koichi Kato, President and Commissioner of the Ladies Asian Golf Tour.
The Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAGT) launched in 2005 was formerly known as the Kasaido Ladies Asian Golf Circuit in 2003.
Enjoy Jakarta has sponsored the Indonesia Open golf tournament for men since 2005, and sponsoring the Ladies Indonesia Open golf tournament is an addition to their sponsorship program.
The Ladies Indonesia Open was first held in 1987 when Fusako Nagata of Japan won the trophy. Other famous winners include Lisa Hacney from England in 1995 and Corinne Dibnah from Australia in 1996.
The tournament can be watched on television with coverage on ESPN Star Sports in Asia Pacific and the One World Sports in the United States where they will air one hour highlights three times running.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Home Hero Liang Grabs Share Of Nanshan Lead
Nanshan, China, Oct. 11 - Home hero Liang Wenchong played flawless golf for a three-under-par 68 and a share of the lead with countryman Yuan Hao and Australian Steven Jones after the opening round of OneAsia's U.S. $1 million Nanshan China Masters on Thursday.
The trio outshone Major winners Louis Oosthuizen and Y.E. Yang, who were both level par on a day the Nanshan International Golf Club's Danling course had the better of the field.
Six players will have to finish their first round on Friday, but none were realistically within a shout of the leaders.
"I'm familiar with Nanshan as I have played here many times," Liang said. "The course is in very good condition, but really tests my game."
Yuan, a lowly 100th on the Order of Merit, was not to be outdone by his better-known countryman.
"It's my first time to lead a OneAsia event, but I'm not nervous because is in China everything is familiar," he said.
Another unlikely name on the leaderboard was Jones, who hasn't made a cut on OneAsia this year but credits working with a sports psychologist for helping him sharpen his mental toughness.
"I have been playing better at home so its nice to do it here as well," he said. "I was getting a lot of negative thoughts in my head so I have been working on that and I think it is starting to pay off."
Only 15 players were under par around the 6,539 metre (7,151 yard) course and Oosthuizen -- winner of the 2010 Open Championship -- said he would probably try to play more conservatively on Friday.
"I'll just try to hit 18 greens and give myself 18 putts for birdie and hopefully one or two will go in," he said.
"There are a lot of birdies out there, but that bogey is just lurking around the corner all the time."
Yang, winner of the 2009 PGA Championship and a two-time OneAsia champion with victories at the Volvo China Open and Kolon Korea Open in 2010, double-bogeyed the last hole to finish level par.
"It wasn't easy out there," he said. "Its definitely not as easy as it looks!"
"The wind was moving around so it made it hard," he said. "It is not easy to be aggressive on this course. I think eight or 10 under can win this."
SCORES
After round 1 of the 2012 Nanshan China Masters being played at the par-71, 6,539-metres (7,151 yards) Danling course at the Nanshan International GC course (a- denotes amateur):
68 - Steven JONES (AUS), LIANG Wenchong (CHN), YUAN Hao (CHN).
69 - SONG Young-han (KOR), Aaron TOWNSEND (AUS), Jamie ARNOLD (AUS), WANG Jeung-hun (KOR).
70 - Chris CAMPBELL (AUS), PARK Sung-hyuk (KOR), Daniel FOX (AUS), David MCKENDRICK (AUS), Ryan HALLER (AUS), OUYANG Zheng (CHN), Scott LAYCOCK (AUS), Gareth PADDISON (NZL).
71 - Leigh DEAGAN (AUS), Clint RICE (AUS), Terry PILKADARIS (AUS), Simon YATES (SCO), KIM Hyung-tae (KOR), Y. E. YANG (KOR), LIU Yu-xiang (CHN), GAO Yi-jie (CHN), Andre STOLZ (AUS), Louis OOSTHUIZEN (RSA).
72 - ZHOU Guo-wu (CHN), Adam BLAND (AUS), Anthony BROWN (AUS), Michael CHOI (AUS), Ashley HALL (AUS), Michael HENDRY (NZL), HU Mu (CHN), Scott STRANGE (AUS), YU Gen-dong (CHN), LEE Joung-wook (KOR), Andrew MARTIN (AUS), Peter COOKE (AUS), LI Xue-cheng (CHN).
73 - Michael LONG (NZL), Mitchell BROWN (AUS), HE Shaocai (CHN), Douglas HOLLOWAY (NZL), James MCLEAN (AUS), FAN Zhi-peng (CHN), Michael WRIGHT (AUS), SU Dong (CHN), Garrett SAPP (USA), Mark BROWN (NZL).
74 - WU Wei-huang (CHN), LI Yuan (am, CHN), Rory HIE (INA), Brent McCULLOUGH (AUS), FU Tai (CHN), DOU Ze-cheng (am, CHN), ZHANG Chang-lei (CHN), WU Hong-fu (CHN), Jason KANG (USA), LI Chao (CHN), James CARR (AUS), David McKENZIE (AUS), Rohan BLIZARD (AUS).
The trio outshone Major winners Louis Oosthuizen and Y.E. Yang, who were both level par on a day the Nanshan International Golf Club's Danling course had the better of the field.
Six players will have to finish their first round on Friday, but none were realistically within a shout of the leaders.
"I'm familiar with Nanshan as I have played here many times," Liang said. "The course is in very good condition, but really tests my game."
Yuan, a lowly 100th on the Order of Merit, was not to be outdone by his better-known countryman.
"It's my first time to lead a OneAsia event, but I'm not nervous because is in China everything is familiar," he said.
Another unlikely name on the leaderboard was Jones, who hasn't made a cut on OneAsia this year but credits working with a sports psychologist for helping him sharpen his mental toughness.
"I have been playing better at home so its nice to do it here as well," he said. "I was getting a lot of negative thoughts in my head so I have been working on that and I think it is starting to pay off."
Only 15 players were under par around the 6,539 metre (7,151 yard) course and Oosthuizen -- winner of the 2010 Open Championship -- said he would probably try to play more conservatively on Friday.
"I'll just try to hit 18 greens and give myself 18 putts for birdie and hopefully one or two will go in," he said.
"There are a lot of birdies out there, but that bogey is just lurking around the corner all the time."
Yang, winner of the 2009 PGA Championship and a two-time OneAsia champion with victories at the Volvo China Open and Kolon Korea Open in 2010, double-bogeyed the last hole to finish level par.
"It wasn't easy out there," he said. "Its definitely not as easy as it looks!"
"The wind was moving around so it made it hard," he said. "It is not easy to be aggressive on this course. I think eight or 10 under can win this."
SCORES
After round 1 of the 2012 Nanshan China Masters being played at the par-71, 6,539-metres (7,151 yards) Danling course at the Nanshan International GC course (a- denotes amateur):
68 - Steven JONES (AUS), LIANG Wenchong (CHN), YUAN Hao (CHN).
69 - SONG Young-han (KOR), Aaron TOWNSEND (AUS), Jamie ARNOLD (AUS), WANG Jeung-hun (KOR).
70 - Chris CAMPBELL (AUS), PARK Sung-hyuk (KOR), Daniel FOX (AUS), David MCKENDRICK (AUS), Ryan HALLER (AUS), OUYANG Zheng (CHN), Scott LAYCOCK (AUS), Gareth PADDISON (NZL).
71 - Leigh DEAGAN (AUS), Clint RICE (AUS), Terry PILKADARIS (AUS), Simon YATES (SCO), KIM Hyung-tae (KOR), Y. E. YANG (KOR), LIU Yu-xiang (CHN), GAO Yi-jie (CHN), Andre STOLZ (AUS), Louis OOSTHUIZEN (RSA).
72 - ZHOU Guo-wu (CHN), Adam BLAND (AUS), Anthony BROWN (AUS), Michael CHOI (AUS), Ashley HALL (AUS), Michael HENDRY (NZL), HU Mu (CHN), Scott STRANGE (AUS), YU Gen-dong (CHN), LEE Joung-wook (KOR), Andrew MARTIN (AUS), Peter COOKE (AUS), LI Xue-cheng (CHN).
73 - Michael LONG (NZL), Mitchell BROWN (AUS), HE Shaocai (CHN), Douglas HOLLOWAY (NZL), James MCLEAN (AUS), FAN Zhi-peng (CHN), Michael WRIGHT (AUS), SU Dong (CHN), Garrett SAPP (USA), Mark BROWN (NZL).
74 - WU Wei-huang (CHN), LI Yuan (am, CHN), Rory HIE (INA), Brent McCULLOUGH (AUS), FU Tai (CHN), DOU Ze-cheng (am, CHN), ZHANG Chang-lei (CHN), WU Hong-fu (CHN), Jason KANG (USA), LI Chao (CHN), James CARR (AUS), David McKENZIE (AUS), Rohan BLIZARD (AUS).
Sunday, October 7, 2012
De Silva Wins, George Gandranata Falters At PGM Sarawak Masters
Kuching, Malaysia, October 7 - Malaysia’s Kenneth De Silva produced a stunning seven-under-par 65 to secure his maiden Asian Development Tour victory at the PGM Sarawak Masters on Sunday.
Starting the final round three shots off the lead, the 21-year-old rookie professional birdied his opening three holes at the Sarawak Golf Club and did not look back with an outstanding outward 30. He became only the second Malaysian after S. Siva Chandhran to win on the ADT, which was launched by the Asian Tour in 2010.
England’s Peter Richardsan finished runner-up after closing with a solid 67 while Filipino Charles Hong signed off with a 69 to come in third in the RM180,000 (approximately US$60,000) event, which is the 10th leg of the 2012 Schedule.
“This feels so good. It’s my first win as a professional and the best score in my life. My putting was so good … I took less than 25 putts,” said De Silva, who accumulated a four-day total of five-under-par 283 and earned RM31,500 (approximately US$10,500) for his breakthrough.
The Malaysian got out of the blocks superbly with three opening birdies, firing an approach to five feet on the first hole, chipping in on the second and draining a 10-footer at the third hole. But the most important birdie putt came at the last when a 20-foot curler disappeared into the cup which sealed a memorable come-from-behind victory.
“I told myself that I needed to birdie the last to win,” said De Silva. “My caddie was giving me a lot of good lines and I felt confident with the last putt.
“When I got up this morning, I somehow felt good to play and I just got off to a really good start. I was really relaxed on the back nine and I drew on my experiences of winning (12) amateur events.”
The victory provided a silver lining for De Silva as he suffered the agony of missing out on an Asian Tour card at Qualifying School in January with a heart-wrenching quadruple bogey nine on the 72nd hole.
He was in position to earn his playing rights on Asia’s elite circuit but he sent two shots into the water to miss out. “That was my worst experience and it took me a few months to get over it. But I think I learned a lot from that,” said De Silva.
“Now that I have won my first ADT event, I’m going to try to win another tournament and try to finish in the top-three of the Order of Merit (which rewards players with Asian Tour cards for 2013).”
Overnight leader Choo Tze Huang ended with a 73 to settle for tied sixth place with countryman Quincy Quek and Malaysia’s Akhmal Tarmizee.
Indonesian George Gandranata had a disastrous last day and finished in 47th place with a total of 302. His last round score of 83 was 15 shots more than his first round when he took the provisional lead after a round of 68 that included a hole-in-one. Hopefully the next tournament he will be able to show more consistency and finish higher up in the rankings.
The ADT, which was inaugurated two years’ ago with five events, will stage a minimum of 12 tournaments this season. One more event will be announced shortly. From next year, all ADT events will receive Official World Golf Ranking points which will be a huge boost for the development of the game in Asia.
Leading final round scores (Par 72):
283: Kenneth DE SILVA (Mas) 71-75-72-65
284: Peter RICHARDSON (Eng) 75-72-70-67
285: Charles HONG (Phi) 71-69-76-69
286: Lindsay RENOLDS (Can) 75-76-69-66
287: Sukree OTHMAN (Mas) 72-74-72-69
288: Quincy QUEK (Sin) 76-73-72-67, Akhmal TARMIZEE (Mas) 70-73-73-72, CHOO Tze Huang (Sin) 71-70-74-73
290: Jeremiah KIM (Mas) 71-72-74-73, Mitsuhiko HASHIZUME (Jpn) 72-74-71-73, Jhonnel ABABA (Phi) 75-71-70-74, Go NAKAUCHI (Jpn) 71-72-78-70
291: Ryan BULLOCH (Aus) 76-77-71-67, James LAM (Phi) 70-74- 77-70, Mhark FERNANDO (Phi) 73-73-75-70, LIM Eng Seng (Mas) 76-75-69-71, Michael MOORE (Aus) 71-74-73-73
Selected scores:
302: George GANDRANATA (INA) 68-75-76-83
Starting the final round three shots off the lead, the 21-year-old rookie professional birdied his opening three holes at the Sarawak Golf Club and did not look back with an outstanding outward 30. He became only the second Malaysian after S. Siva Chandhran to win on the ADT, which was launched by the Asian Tour in 2010.
England’s Peter Richardsan finished runner-up after closing with a solid 67 while Filipino Charles Hong signed off with a 69 to come in third in the RM180,000 (approximately US$60,000) event, which is the 10th leg of the 2012 Schedule.
“This feels so good. It’s my first win as a professional and the best score in my life. My putting was so good … I took less than 25 putts,” said De Silva, who accumulated a four-day total of five-under-par 283 and earned RM31,500 (approximately US$10,500) for his breakthrough.
The Malaysian got out of the blocks superbly with three opening birdies, firing an approach to five feet on the first hole, chipping in on the second and draining a 10-footer at the third hole. But the most important birdie putt came at the last when a 20-foot curler disappeared into the cup which sealed a memorable come-from-behind victory.
“I told myself that I needed to birdie the last to win,” said De Silva. “My caddie was giving me a lot of good lines and I felt confident with the last putt.
“When I got up this morning, I somehow felt good to play and I just got off to a really good start. I was really relaxed on the back nine and I drew on my experiences of winning (12) amateur events.”
The victory provided a silver lining for De Silva as he suffered the agony of missing out on an Asian Tour card at Qualifying School in January with a heart-wrenching quadruple bogey nine on the 72nd hole.
He was in position to earn his playing rights on Asia’s elite circuit but he sent two shots into the water to miss out. “That was my worst experience and it took me a few months to get over it. But I think I learned a lot from that,” said De Silva.
“Now that I have won my first ADT event, I’m going to try to win another tournament and try to finish in the top-three of the Order of Merit (which rewards players with Asian Tour cards for 2013).”
Overnight leader Choo Tze Huang ended with a 73 to settle for tied sixth place with countryman Quincy Quek and Malaysia’s Akhmal Tarmizee.
Indonesian George Gandranata had a disastrous last day and finished in 47th place with a total of 302. His last round score of 83 was 15 shots more than his first round when he took the provisional lead after a round of 68 that included a hole-in-one. Hopefully the next tournament he will be able to show more consistency and finish higher up in the rankings.
The ADT, which was inaugurated two years’ ago with five events, will stage a minimum of 12 tournaments this season. One more event will be announced shortly. From next year, all ADT events will receive Official World Golf Ranking points which will be a huge boost for the development of the game in Asia.
Leading final round scores (Par 72):
283: Kenneth DE SILVA (Mas) 71-75-72-65
284: Peter RICHARDSON (Eng) 75-72-70-67
285: Charles HONG (Phi) 71-69-76-69
286: Lindsay RENOLDS (Can) 75-76-69-66
287: Sukree OTHMAN (Mas) 72-74-72-69
288: Quincy QUEK (Sin) 76-73-72-67, Akhmal TARMIZEE (Mas) 70-73-73-72, CHOO Tze Huang (Sin) 71-70-74-73
290: Jeremiah KIM (Mas) 71-72-74-73, Mitsuhiko HASHIZUME (Jpn) 72-74-71-73, Jhonnel ABABA (Phi) 75-71-70-74, Go NAKAUCHI (Jpn) 71-72-78-70
291: Ryan BULLOCH (Aus) 76-77-71-67, James LAM (Phi) 70-74- 77-70, Mhark FERNANDO (Phi) 73-73-75-70, LIM Eng Seng (Mas) 76-75-69-71, Michael MOORE (Aus) 71-74-73-73
Selected scores:
302: George GANDRANATA (INA) 68-75-76-83
Saturday, October 6, 2012
George Gandranata Falls Further Back In PGM Sarawak Masters
Kuching, Malaysia, October 6 - Singapore’s Choo Tze Huang battled to a two-over-par 74 to take a slim one-shot lead over Malaysia’s Akhmal Tarmizee and Filipino duo Jhonnel Ababa and Charles Hong after the third round of the PGM Sarawak Masters on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Choo, touted as one of the region’s rising stars, seemed to be coasting towards a comfortable lead at the Sarawak Golf Club before stumbling over his last three holes with one bogey and a double bogey in the RM180,000 (approximately US$60,000) Asian Development Tour event.
“I was doing well, and putting decent. But in the last three holes, I didn’t quite do it. It was a bad finish,” said Choo, who compiled a three-day total of one-under-par 215.
“The greens are tough to get close to as they are firm and quick. They are really challenging and you really need to be patient out there which I was today. I’m quite happy despite the finish,” added Choo.
With one round to go, Choo is hopeful he can secure his maiden title on the ADT which rewards the top-three finishers on the final Order of Merit with Asian Tour cards for the 2013 season.
“I’m happy with the way I’m playing in the last few weeks. I’ve played well in a couple of ADT events as I’ve been working really hard at my game. It seems to be paying off. I’m confident about tomorrow and hopefully, I can continue to play well and the putts will drop,” said Choo.
Ababa shot a solid round of 70, thanks to four birdies against two bogeys, to stay in the title hunt.
“I hit it good on the front nine. I’m really happy. My birdies were from between five to 10 feet. This golf course is hard as it’s long and the greens are tough,” said Ababa, who finished third in the Bii Maybank ADT Challenge in Indonesia in July.
“I’m just going to enjoy the day tomorrow. I’ve won three local events on the Philippine Tour last year. But to do it tomorrow, I will need to drive the ball well as you can’t make mistakes here,” he said.
Hong, who held the overnight lead, posted a 76 after rounds of 71 and 69 while local hope, Akhmal returned with another 73 for a 216 total.
Malaysia’s S.Siva Chandhran and Jeremiah Kim signed for a 73 and 74 respectively to share fifth place with England’s Peter Richardson (70) and Japan’s Mitsuhiko Hashizume (71) on 217 at the ADT event.
George Gandranata of Indonesia, who took the lead on the first day but lost it to Charles Hong yesterday, fell further back in the field after scoring 76 in the third round for a total of 219, dropping back to 13th in the field.
The ADT, which was inaugurated in 2010 with five events, will stage a minimum of 12 tournaments this season. From next year, all ADT events will receive Official World Golf Ranking points which is a huge boost for the development of the game in Asia.
Leading third round scores (Par 72):
215 CHOO Tze Huang (SIN) 71-70-74
216 Jhonnel ABABA (PHI) 75-71-70, Akhmal TARMIZEE (MAS) 70-73-73, Charles HONG (PHI) 71-69-76
217 Peter RICHARDSON (ENG) 75-72-70, Mitsuhiko HASHIZUME (JPN) 72-74-71, S. Siva Chandhran (MAS)72-72-73, Jeremiah KIM (MAS) 71-72-74
218 Kenneth DE SILVA (MAS) 71-75-72, Sukree OTHMAN (MAS) 72-74-72, Michael MOORE (AUS) 71-74-73, Airil Rizman ZAHARI (MAS) 71-73-74
Selected:
219 Geaorge GANDRANATA (INA) 68-75-76
The 25-year-old Choo, touted as one of the region’s rising stars, seemed to be coasting towards a comfortable lead at the Sarawak Golf Club before stumbling over his last three holes with one bogey and a double bogey in the RM180,000 (approximately US$60,000) Asian Development Tour event.
“I was doing well, and putting decent. But in the last three holes, I didn’t quite do it. It was a bad finish,” said Choo, who compiled a three-day total of one-under-par 215.
“The greens are tough to get close to as they are firm and quick. They are really challenging and you really need to be patient out there which I was today. I’m quite happy despite the finish,” added Choo.
With one round to go, Choo is hopeful he can secure his maiden title on the ADT which rewards the top-three finishers on the final Order of Merit with Asian Tour cards for the 2013 season.
“I’m happy with the way I’m playing in the last few weeks. I’ve played well in a couple of ADT events as I’ve been working really hard at my game. It seems to be paying off. I’m confident about tomorrow and hopefully, I can continue to play well and the putts will drop,” said Choo.
Ababa shot a solid round of 70, thanks to four birdies against two bogeys, to stay in the title hunt.
“I hit it good on the front nine. I’m really happy. My birdies were from between five to 10 feet. This golf course is hard as it’s long and the greens are tough,” said Ababa, who finished third in the Bii Maybank ADT Challenge in Indonesia in July.
“I’m just going to enjoy the day tomorrow. I’ve won three local events on the Philippine Tour last year. But to do it tomorrow, I will need to drive the ball well as you can’t make mistakes here,” he said.
Hong, who held the overnight lead, posted a 76 after rounds of 71 and 69 while local hope, Akhmal returned with another 73 for a 216 total.
Malaysia’s S.Siva Chandhran and Jeremiah Kim signed for a 73 and 74 respectively to share fifth place with England’s Peter Richardson (70) and Japan’s Mitsuhiko Hashizume (71) on 217 at the ADT event.
George Gandranata of Indonesia, who took the lead on the first day but lost it to Charles Hong yesterday, fell further back in the field after scoring 76 in the third round for a total of 219, dropping back to 13th in the field.
The ADT, which was inaugurated in 2010 with five events, will stage a minimum of 12 tournaments this season. From next year, all ADT events will receive Official World Golf Ranking points which is a huge boost for the development of the game in Asia.
Leading third round scores (Par 72):
215 CHOO Tze Huang (SIN) 71-70-74
216 Jhonnel ABABA (PHI) 75-71-70, Akhmal TARMIZEE (MAS) 70-73-73, Charles HONG (PHI) 71-69-76
217 Peter RICHARDSON (ENG) 75-72-70, Mitsuhiko HASHIZUME (JPN) 72-74-71, S. Siva Chandhran (MAS)72-72-73, Jeremiah KIM (MAS) 71-72-74
218 Kenneth DE SILVA (MAS) 71-75-72, Sukree OTHMAN (MAS) 72-74-72, Michael MOORE (AUS) 71-74-73, Airil Rizman ZAHARI (MAS) 71-73-74
Selected:
219 Geaorge GANDRANATA (INA) 68-75-76
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