Trio unfazed by haze in Mild Seven KL Open

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