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."