Fryatt leads Singapore Open golf c'ship

SINGAPORE (JP): Ed Fryatt, the man whose nationality often attracts more interest than his formidable golf game, fired a seven-under-par 65 today to take the lead in the US$500,000 SingTel Ericsson Singapore Open.

The tournament, being played at Jurong Country Club, is the first 'Major' of the year on the Asian PGA's Omega Tour.

Fryatt, winner of last year's Indonesia Open and this year's Indian Open, set himself up for a hat-trick of national open titles in Asia after leading the tournament on 10-under-par 134 at the halfway stage.

Myanmar's Zaw Moe lies in second place on eight-under-par 136 with Indonesia's Kasiadi, American Mike Tschetter, Australian Rodney Pampling and Malaysia's Ali Kadir a stroke further back.

Twenty-six-year-old Fryatt carries a British passport but speaks with an American accent having lived in Las Vegas for over twenty years.

"My passport is British but my golf is American," said Fryatt. "I lived in England for a couple of years before moving to the United States around '74, '75. I have still got a British passport. I just haven't go round to the paperwork yet."

The Las Vegan made his move quickly in round two after birdieing the first two holes and catapulted himself up the leaderboard with four birdies in a row starting on the ninth.

It could well have been six birdies on the trot if he had been able to birdie and not par the 13th as on the 202-yard par-three following hole he 'stiffed' a two iron to a foot.

"Today was certainly a good day," added Fryatt. "So far the tournament has been a big improvement on last year's Singapore Open when I had to retire sick on the first tee on Sunday."

Singapore-based Moe, playing on familiar ground, carded a three-under-par 69 made up of four birdies and one bogey.

"Whenever I am in town I play here with some of the members," said Moe.

"I have played a lot on this course this year in preparation for the Open.

I played well today but unlike yesterday I didn't feel like I was charging.

I didn't have that many birdie chances," added the 30-year-old Japan PGA.

Tour player

The surprise package of the tournament so far is diminutive Indonesian Kasiadi. The 34-year-old won the Indonesia Open in 1989 but has struggled with his game since.

"I started to play very well last week on the Omega Tour in the Sabah Masters. My short game is really good at the moment," said Kasiadi. "I feel strong. I will try hard to win." (rsl)

Results: 134 - Edward Fryatt (Eng) 69 65 136 - Zaw Moe (Myn) 67 69 137 - Rodney Pampling (Aus) 69 68, Mike Tschetter (USA) 68 69, Kasiadi (Ina) 68 69, Ali Kadir (Mas) 68 69 138 - Robert Huxtable (USA) 68 70, Grant Dodd (Aus) 68 70, Scott Laycock (Aus) 68 70 139 - Rafael Ponce (Ecu) 71 68, Carlos Espinosa (Mex) 70 69, Samson Gimson (Sin) 69 70, Boonchu Ruangkit (Tha) 69 70, Leith Wastle (Aus) 67 72, Soe Kyaw Naing (Myn) 67 72 140 - Elliot Boult (Nzl) 70 70 141 - Mike Cunning (USA) 73 68, Ted Purdy (USA) 73 68, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 73 68, Brad Andrews (Aus) 72 69, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 71 70, Gaurav Ghei (Ind) 71 70, Preecha Senaprom (Tha) 70 71, Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 70 71, John Senden (Aus) 70 71, Gerry Norquist (USA) 70 71, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 70 71 142 - Christian Pena (USA) 73 69, Aaron Meeks (USA) 72 70, Jim Rutledge (Can) 72 70