Taiwan's Chang charts Sabah Masters victory
Taiwan's Chang charts Sabah Masters victory
KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia (JP): Taiwan's Chang Tse-peng
continued his rise to the forefront of Asian golf yesterday by
taking the halfway lead in the US$200,000 Sabah Masters at the
Sabah Golf and Country Club.
The 27-year-old from Taipei fired a three-under-par 69 to lead
the tournament by one stroke from Singapore's Mardan Mamat,
Australians Paul Foley and Robert Stephens, and American Fran
Quinn.
"I think if I can shoot three under for two rounds at the
weekend, a 70 and 71 for example, I have a very good chance of
winning," said Chang, as reported by Asia Omega Tour.
Chang made five birdies and two bogies in his round.
"I hit a lot of good approach shots today and my putting was
great," he said.
Chang is a cousin of tennis star Michael Chang.
"I have been playing well all year and am just feeling very
comfortable with my game."
Since his maiden professional win in the Taiwan PGA
Championship last year Chang has continued to produce a stream of
good performances on the Omega Tour.
He was placed joint third in the Asian Honda Classic in
Bangkok at the start of the year, behind winner American Tiger
Woods, and later finished runner-up to Australian Andrew Bonhomme
in the Vietnam Open.
"I have no real ambitions for the year other than to just
continue playing well," said Chang.
Kasiyadi, who together with Maan Naasim was named by Satelindo
to represent Indonesia, managed to score better yesterday after
carding a two-day total of 145 (75 70).
Kasiyadi fired three fine birdies on the 5th, 8th and 9th for
a 33 before returning home with a 37 after shooting two birdies
and a bogey.
Unfortunately Maan was unable to follow Kasiyadi's better
showing only garnering a two-day score of 154 (79 75).
Mamat also fired a three-under-par 69 today to challenge for
honors in what is the seventh event of the year on the 1997 Omega
Tour.
In form Mamat, who two weeks ago became the first Singaporean
to play in the British Open, made five birdies in his round and
played one of the shots of the day in making a three on the 427-
yard par four 11th.
"I played a terrible tee shot there with a three wood which I
snap hooked down the left. I was blocked out with my second by
the trees but deliberately snap hooked a four iron 185 metres
around the corner to within two metres of the cup," said Mamat.
The 29-year-old is enjoying a purple patch at the moment
having won on the Singapore Circuit last week but is wary of the
dangers that the 6,927-yard Sabah layout hold.
"On this course anything can happen," added Mamat. "I am
playing very well at the moment but I really cannot predict what
will happen at the weekend. The back nine especially can give you
a lot of problems."
The level of difficulty of the course was reflected by the
high halfway cut which was made at six-over-par 150. (rsl)
Results:
139 - Chang Tse-peng (Tpe) 70-69
140 - Maridan Mamat (Sin) 71-69, Paul Foley (Aus) 71-69, Rob
Stephens (Aus) 70-70, Fran Quinn (USA) 69-71
141 - Aaron Meeks (USA) 68-73
142 - Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 72-70
143 - Jim Rutledge (Can) 74-69, Marimuthu Ramayah (Mal) 73-70,
Zhang Lian-wei (Chn) 72-71, Gerry Norquist (USA) 72-71, Lee
Petters (UAE) 72-71, Thammanoon Sriroj (Tha) 72-71, Mamoru
Takahashi (Jpn) 70-73
144 - George Olaybar (Phi) 75-69, Boonchu Ruangkit (Tha) 74-70,
Rodrigo Cuello (Phi) 74-70, Simon Owen (Nzl) 73-71, Rob
Willis (Aus) 73-71, Christian Pena (USA) 72-72, Ali Kadir
(Mal) 72-72, Park Unho (Aus) 71-73
145 - Kasiyadi (Ina) 75-70, Des Terblanche (Rsa) 73-72, Prayad
Marksaeng (Tha) 73-72, Mo Joong-kyung (Kor) 73-72,
Tatsuhiko Nishikawa (Jpn) 72-73, P. Gunasegaran (Mal) 72-
73, Nam Young-Woo (Kor) 72-73, Scott Laycock (Aus) 69-76
148 - Dominique Boulet (Hkg) 77-71