Asian golfers shine at Volvo Matchplay

JAKARTA (JP): China's number one golfer Zhang Lian-wei justified his billing yesterday as the number one player in Asia at the Emeralda Golf and Country Club after charging through to the semifinals of the Volvo Asian Matchplay.

The 29-year-old Chinese, playing faultless golf, defeated the defending champion Jeev Milkha Singh of India in the afternoon's quarterfinals 4 and 2 after disposing of South African Richard Kaplan 2 and 1 in the second round in the morning.

South Korea's Kang Kwok-soon, winner of this year's Omega Order of Merit, put himself in position to cap off a brilliant year by beating Robert Stephens of Australia 2 and 1 in the quarterfinals following a second round defeat of American John Kernohan on the 20th hole. Kang will square up against Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng in the semifinals.

Marksaeng finished off the two Scots in the tournament, first beating Kenny Walker in the second round on the 21st hole and then John Wither two and one.

Zhang now faces Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant over 36 holes in today's semifinals. Thaworn, winner of the opening event on this year's Omega Tour, the Sabah Masters, knocked out Indonesia's Maan Nasim 5 and 3 in the quarterfinals.

"My feet suddenly started hurting and I could not move when teeing-off on the second hole which caused a 30-minute delay. I've never played 36 holes like today," he complained.

"But it wouldn't make me give up. I can still got points on hole five," he added.

An eagle on the 571-yard par-five 12th powered Thaworn to victory. The three put him three up in his match before par fours on 14 and 15 were good enough for wins to secure the match.

Earlier on in the day Thaworn made it through against the American Rob Moss 4 and 3.

In the Hugo Boss Foursomes, a tournament run in parallel with the main matchplay event to cater for those players knocked out after each round, Kernohan and Australian Paul Foley will face Thailand Thammanoon Sriroj and Boonchu today while Australians Jeff Wagner and Glenn Joyner will compete against South African Craig Kamps and Korea's Choi Kyung-ju. Singh and Wither will play against Nasim and Stephens. (rsl)