KL sets pace in golf World qualifier
KL sets pace in golf World qualifier
Agence France-Presse
Senai, Malaysia
Host Malaysia got off to a flying start in the World Cup
qualifier Thursday when Danny Chia and R. Nachimuthu combined for
a sizzling nine-under-par 63 in the opening fourball.
Chia, chasing his third World Cup appearance, contributed four
birdies while debutant Nachimuthu struck five in his last 10
holes at Palm Resort Golf and Country Club.
The local duo lead by two shots from Chinese Taipei's Wang
Ter-chang and Lu Wei-chih while a further shot back were surprise
package Pakistan and Myanmar, who both posted 66.
Thailand, India, Korea, Finland and Switzerland all shot 67s
to lie within striking distance of the leaders.
The top three finishers on Sunday will earn places in
November's US$4 million World Cup in Seville, Spain, in November.
"It's the start that we wanted. We both played well as a team
and hit our irons well," said Nachimuthu. "We were aggressive on
some holes and made some nice putts."
Chia and Nachimuthu enjoyed a run of five straight birdies in
mid-round, thanks to Nachimuthu's 15-foot curling putt on the
ninth. Nachimuthu's birdie blitz included a chip in from the back
of the green on the 13th.
"Tomorrow will be the key as it's foursomes day (alternate
shot)," said Chia. "We'll be playing one ball and it's important
to avoid the big numbers. You don't want to be over par
tomorrow."
Surprise challenger was Pakistan, with a domestic circuit
which offers very little in total prize money - $20,000 is the
highest and $5,000 is the norm. But Matloob Ahmed and Muhammad
Shabbir combined effectively to shoot seven birdies against a
lone bogey.
"We're feeling good now, we're happy to be here," said
Shabbir, the country's number one for the past five years. "Golf
is very small back home and there is little support from
sponsors. We would like to play on the Asian Tour but we don't
have the funds to travel.
"It'll be a dream come true if we can qualify for the World
Cup," said the 27-year-old Shabbir.
Soe Kyaw Naing was in top form for Myanmar with four birdies
on the front nine while veteran Kyi Hla Han, Asia's number one in
1999, contributed three birdies. Their lone bogey came when Han
three putted the 14th.
"You'd expect good scores today as it's fourball," said Han.
"Foursomes is a different ballgame but we're comfortable together
as our games are very similar."
Rahil Gangjee needed a monster eagle putt at the 18th to haul
India closer to the top.
"Amandeep (Johl) and I played average but we stuck in there,"
said Gangjee.
Thailand's Boonchu Ruangkit and Thaworn Wiratchant were not
pleased with their 67. "We could have shot lower," lamented
Boonchu, currently ninth on the Asian Tour money ranking.
"Thaworn putted really good today and we were quite relaxed
out there as a combination."