Chang, Chawalit take early lead in Tugu Pratama<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Chang Tse-Peng of Chinese Taipei and Thailand's
\nChawalit Plaphol, the first-round leader last week on the Omega
\nTour, share the lead after the first day of the US$300,000 Tugu
\nPratama PGA Championship 1997 on six-under-par 66 yesterday.<\/p>\n
Australian Brad Andrews, Paul Friedlander of Swaziland, the
\nwinner of last year's Dubai Creek Open, and the Omega Order of
\nMerit leader, Mike Cunning of the United States, are all one shot
\nbehind.<\/p>\n
Chang, who only finished 37th in the same tournament last
\nyear, said he played perfectly today at the Bumi Serpong Damai
\ngolf course.<\/p>\n
\"Although I missed some shots today, everything went well,\" he
\ntold a post-round press conference.<\/p>\n
\"I am feeling relaxed on the golf course and feel that I am
\nhitting the ball better than ever,\" said the 23-year-old
\nChawalit.<\/p>\n
\"It was a good round today but I know there is still a long
\nway to go,\" added the Thai player, who took eighth place in last
\nweek's Lexus International.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's Bachtiar Sanja and Burhan Bora, winner of the
\nPrasidha East Java Open last September at Ciputra Course in
\nSurabaya, were lying sixth with three-under-par 69s.<\/p>\n
Chang, cousin of American tennis star Michael Chang, bogeyed
\nthe third hole but then shot seven birdies on the fourth, fifth,
\neighth, ninth, 14th, 17th and 18th holes.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old golfer, who turned pro after the 1994 Asian
\nGames, said he had competed in 16 out of 19 Omega tour series.<\/p>\n
\"In all of the 16 tournaments, this is the first time I've
\never taken the lead,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Chang, who is 17th on the Omega Order of Merit with $52,170,
\nsaid Cunning would be his main opponent in today's round.<\/p>\n
\"Mike is a very strong golfer on the Omega tour. He's very
\nconsistent and he's good at every shot.<\/p>\n
\"I need more self-confidence tomorrow but I'm trying to
\nconcentrate more on the game and not to win tomorrow's round.\"<\/p>\n
\"I could be playing in Taiwan this week but I chose to come
\nhere. It is an important time of the year for everybody. The
\nhigher you finish on the money list the more opportunities open
\nup for you,\" said Chang.<\/p>\n
Cunning, still looking for his first win on the Omega Tour,
\nwas surprised by his opening round. \"The course suits long
\nhitters and although my ball striking is solid I do not hit the
\nball very far,\" said the American. \"We'll see what happens.\"<\/p>\n
One hundred and twenty-six golfers, including 32 locals, are
\ncompeting in the annual event, which ends on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The organizers are also providing $20,000 prize money for the
\nPro-Am tournament on Sunday and Rp 10 million (US$2,741) for
\ngolfers who manage to produce a hole-in-one. (yan)<\/p>\n
Results:
\n 66 - Chang Tse-Peng (Tpe), Chawalit Plaphol (Tha)
\n 67 - Brad Andrews (Aus), Mike Cunning (U.S.), Paul Friedlander
\n(Swz)
\n 68 - Gavin Vearing (Aus), Jim Rutledge (Can)
\n 69 - Bachtiar Sanja (Ina), Jun Ojima (Jpn), Burhan Bora (Ina),
\nClay Devers (U.S.), Christian Pena (U.S.)
\n 70 - Park Unho (Aus), Ramon Brobio (Phi), Jun Tae-Hyun (Kor),
\nBoonchu Ruangkit (Tha), Kwon Young-suk (Kor), Stephen
\nAtako-Lindskog (Swe), Maan Nasim (Ina), Kim Young-il (Kor)
\n 71 - Lee Yong-Hee (Kor), Dede Idris (Ina), Robert Huxtable
\n(U.S.), Richard Kaplan (Rsa), Dominique Boulet (Hkg), Jeff
\nSenior (Aus), Wayne Bradley (Rsa), Mohd Khalid Yusof (Sin),
\nChua Guan Soon (Sin), M.T. Anto (Ina)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/chang-chawalit-take-early-lead-in-tugu-pratama-1447893297",
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