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.