Three-way tie in Toyota Tour Championship; Galven Green in striking form
PETALING JAYA, 16 Nov 2023, Thursday: Withchyanon Chotirunrungrueng of Thailand, American Jeremy Wendelken and Khalin Joshi of India were the clubhouse leaders at five-under 139 when play was discontinued due to a heavy thunderstorm in the second round of the Toyota Tour Championship jointly sanctioned by the Asian Development Tour at the Saujana Golf & Country Club here today.
The Malaysians who were on the leaderboard and had finished were Khor Kheng Hwai at four-under 140 and Paul San a stroke back. Malcolm Ting and Danial Faidz sat at 143 and will make the cut which is projected at one-over 145.
A total of 51 players will resume their round at 7.15 in the morning including overnight leader Suttinon Panyo of Thailand who was at nine under with six holes to play and Malaysia’s Galven Green at eight under also with six to go. Green, who has yet to make bogey, notched four birdies today on holes 4, 5, 7 and 9. Suttinon meanwhile bogeyed the second hole but played five-under over his next seven holes.
San finished with a commendable three-under today and thanked the 16th hole. “I struggled all day yesterday and sat at three-over after 15 holes. I had missed the cut at the Selangor Masters and didn’t want a repeat here.
“I then birdied the par 3 16th and that got me going. The 17th is a short but tricky par 4 downhill with water hazard on the left. I took dead aim with the driver, landed the ball about 12 feet from the pin and converted for eagle,” recalled San.
He said those last three holes yesterday was a turning point and he went into today’s round full of energy and confidence. “My short game helped me a lot today and I missed quite a number of birdie putts.”
Daeng Abdul Rahman, who was joint second overnight at four-under 68, shot a disastrous seven-over 79 to lie in joint 53rd position at three-over and in danger of missing the cut. Ervin Chang,a pre-tournament favourite who finished fourth in last week’s Selangor Masters, will miss the cut when he shot a 77 today to add to yesterday’s 7
Golf fans at Saujana will be able to enjoy a “mini fan zone” experience as Puma are promoting its latest line of golf shoes and while TaylorMade are organising chipping and putting competitions on the practice green.
There is no admission fee to watch the Toyota Tour Championship which is organised by the Professional Golf Malaysia and delivered by MSTGolf Group. Spectators will also be treated to complimentary merchandise items.
Leading scores (Rd 2)
This article is provided by UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd
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