Solid Second Rounds For Adi And Kurnia At PGM-ASEAN PGA A’Famosa Masters

Melaka, Malaysia, May 9 - S. Murthy held on to a slim one-stroke lead after the second round of the PGM-ASEAN PGA A’Famosa Masters at A’Famosa Golf Resort in Melaka today.

Following the Malaysian’s superlative 63 on the opening day, a poor opening nine left Murthy hanging on, and he had to fight back gallantly down the homeward stretch to settle for a one-over 73 and 136 total.

A shot back was compatriot Khor Kheng Hwai, who carded a 69.

Thailand’s Ratchapol Juntavara was one of the three players who signed for the low round of day – a 67.

He was tied with Malaysia’s Mohd Rizal Amin (69) and Mardan Mamat (69) of Singapore on 138 in third place.

Like yesterday, both Adi Bramantyo and Kurnia Hershandy from Indonesian had an equal score. After a 76 yesterday, both improved to an even par today putting them in a tie for 38th. This means both players made the cut with a 2-round total of 148.

Murthy, who was red-hot with his short-irons and on the greens and led by five strokes after the first day, stumbled to a four-over 40 over the first nine, surrendering a triple-bogey and another two bogeys - against one birdie.

But the player who said he was working hard at his game over the past year-and-a-half or so and began his second round at the 10th hole, hit back with a birdie on the fifth and an eagle on the par-five seventh.

For his part, Ratchapol said he drove the ball well, but lamented a “few blunders” when his putting cost him the chance of doing even better than his 65.

The US$60,000 event, co-sanctioned with the PGM Tour and the ASEAN PGA Tour, sees the top-10 players at the mid-point of the tournament all within four strokes of the lead.
v Leading Second Round Scores (Par 72, Malaysian unless stated otherwise):

136 - S. Murthy 63-73

137 - Khor Kheng Hwai 68-69

138 - Mohd Rizal Amin 69-69, Ratchapol Juntavara (THA) 71-67, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 69-69

139 - Mohd Sukree Othman 69-70, Anis Helmi Hassan 72-67, Iylia Jamil 71-68

140 - Kenneth De Silva 70-70, R Nachimuthu 73-67

Selected:

148 - Adi Bramantyo (INA) 76-72, Kurnia Hershandy (INA) 76-72