Asia leads over Japan in Dynasty Cup golf
Asia leads over Japan in Dynasty Cup golf
Associated Press, Shenzhen, China
The Asia team dominated the fourball matches on Saturday to overtake Japan and take a 6 1/2 to 51/2 lead on the second day of the Dynasty Cup.
Japan extended its overnight lead when Tomohiro Kondo and Takuya Taniguchi fired seven birdies in 13 holes to easily beat Thai pair Boonchu Ruangkit and Prayad Marksaeng 6 & 5 in the opening fourball matchup at Mission Hills Golf Club.
Asia's top ranked Thongchai Jaidee and Mardan Mamat of Thailand recovered from two down through 11 holes to spark an Asian fightback and beat Toru Suzuki and Tetsuji Hiratsuka 3 and 1 in the second match.
Chinese pair Zhang Lianwei and Liang Wenchong maintained their unbeaten streak in the Ryder Cup-style tournament to claim their fourth victory together with a 2 and 1 win over Hideki Kase and Ryoken Kawagishi.
With the momentum well in Asia's favor, the title holders surged further ahead with Dynasty Cup rookie Amandeep Johl of India producing an inspirational performance with eight birdies, as he and Thai teammate Thammanoon Srirot trounced Katsumasa Miyamoto and Hiroyuki Fujita 3 and 2.
Japan's Shigeki Maruyama and Keiichiro Fukabori halted the Asian roll, earning a half with Angelo Que of the Philippines and South Korea's Mo Joong-kyung. Que missing a 15-foot birdie on the last hole.
Shingo Katayama ensured there would be plenty to play for in tomorrow's final day of play by draining a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole as he and partner Takashi Kamiyama earned a half point for Japan against India's Jyoti Randhawa and Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant.
In Phuket, Thailand, Retief Goosen and Thomas Bjorn shared the Tiger Skins tournament title on Saturday, with the winners donating their earnings to the victims of December's tsunami.
South Africa's Goosen, winner of the two previous Tiger Skins, came from behind to fire birdies on the 15th and 16th holes for nine skins and draw even with Thomas Bjorn of Denmark who won seven skins but on more valuable holes.
Scotland's Colin Montgomerie won one skin while the tournament's other player, Grace Park of South Korea, came away empty-handed.