Trio unfazed by haze in Mild Seven KL Open
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (Agencies): The haze got worse today at the US$300,000 Mild Seven Kuala Lumpur Open but three players who failed to let the conditions get the better of them were Australian Leith Wastle, South African Craig Kamps and Taiwan's Chou Hung-nan.
At Saujana Golf and Country Club the trio moved into a share of the halfway lead in the Omega Tour event on five-under-par 139 with Wastle carding a four-under-par 68, Kamps a 69 and Chou a 70.
Korean Charlie Wi is a stroke behind the leaders after firing a 73. Felix Casas of the Philippines and Singapore's Mardan Mamat lie in fifth place on three under.
Korean Choi Kyung-ju, who led after the first day's play with a six-under-par 66, crashed to a four-over-par 76.
Many at the golf club felt visibility was the lowest it has been since smoke from bush fires in Indonesia first began drifting over a month ago.
While the pins on the par threes were visible it was struggle to see the greens on the par fives and longer par fours, especially later in the day.
The most remarkable performance of the day was that of Wastle who struggles to see his approach shots even in the best of light.
"I have very poor vision and normally with long iron approach shots I just whack it and rely on my caddie to tell me where the ball has finished," said Wastle. "Today I was practically playing blind."
Wastle produced a rollercoaster round made up of eight birdies and four bogies. He three putted his last two holes from 30 feet on the eighth and from 40 feet on the ninth.
For the first time in the tournament masks were seen out on the course today although it was officials and spectators using them and not players.
"I would certainly consider using a mask tomorrow, particularly if the haze was stronger. I think it would feel a bit irritating though," said Kamps, winner of the Canlubang Classic on the Omega Tour last year in the Philippines.
"Today was the first day I could actually taste the haze, you could really feel it hit the back of your throat especially when puffing a bit walking uphill," said Kamps, who birdied three holes in-a-row from the 11th.
"My main concern is to keep play moving smoothly so the players do not have to spend too long out there. Over the weekend we will be playing from two tees," said Malaysian Valen Tan, Tournament Director, Asian PGA.
"It is very murky out there but I certainly can't tell the players to wear masks. It is up to them to decide. We have a supply of masks in the tournament office if they need to use one," added Tan. The half-way cut in the tournament was made at four-over-par 148.
Results
139 - Leith Wastle (Aus) 71 68, Craig Kamps (Rsa) 70 69, Chou Hung-nan (Tpe) 69 70 140 - Charlie Wi (Kor) 67 73 141 - Felix Casas (Phi) 72 69, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 71 70, 142 - Lu Wen-Teh (Tpe) 75 67, Kasiadi (Ina) 74 68, Clay Devers (USA) 73 69, Kenny Walker (Sco) 72 70, Choi Kyung-Ju (Kor) 66 76 143 - Aaron Meeks (USA) 74 69, Jim Rutledge (Can) 71 72, Lee Petters (UAE) 71 72, Rob Stephens (Aus) 71 72, Jeff Wagner (Aus) 69 74, Lai Ying-Juh (Tpe) 69 74, Nico Van Rensburg (Rsa) 69 74 144 - Chung Joon (Kor) 74 70, Gerry Norquist (USA) 74 70, Rob Willis (Aus) 73 71, Prayadksaeng (Tha) 72 72, Lin Chien- Bing (Tpe) 72 72, Mike Cunning (USA) 72 72, Zhang Lian-Wei (Chn) 71 73 145 - Jamnian Chitprasong (Tha) 75 70, Des Terblanche (Rsa) 75 70, Kyi Hla Han (Myn) 74 71, Jun Tae-hyun (Kor) 73 72, Fran Quinn (USA) 73 72 147 - Derek Fung (Hkg) 72 75, 151 - Dominique Boulet (Hkg) 76 75