SECOND ROUND LEADER: Fung makes a shot during the second round of the PGM Sarawak Classic at KGS yesterday. – Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: PGM Sabah Classic champion Nicholas Fung took the lead of round two of the PGM Sarawak Classic yesterday at Sarawak Golf Club, Petra Jaya.
Fung, ranked number 10 in PGM Tour Order-of-Merit, scored a total of 136 after two rounds to be in the first position. He was fifth in the first round.
“My putting is awesome today. I saved a lot of games with my pitch shots. However, my driving was not so good because a lot of shots went into the jungle,” he said when met after his game.
Two strokes behind was PGM Penang Classic champion R Nachimuthu who maintained his second position with the total score of 138 after two rounds.
“Overall my game was okay. I missed a few chances in par five and my putting in the first round was more solid compared with today,” said Nachimuthu.
As for his game plan for today, the PGM Tour Order-of-Merit ranked number five stated that he will just keep to his game plan.
PGM Johor Classic champion Md Rashid Ismail improved his position to be in third position after finishing fifth position in the first round.
Md Rashid, ranked second, scored a total of 139 after two rounds.
“I was lucky because for the past two days my putting was good. This makes my confidence level high although I didn’t hit that well,” Md Rashid said.
Overall, he was happy with his performance yesterday as he did not put any high expectation for this tournament.
M Sasidaran, ranked number three, completed the second round yesterday in fourth position with a total score of 140 after two rounds.
“Overall my driving for today is good but I didn’t make my putting. Besides hoping for better luck, I will need to putt well for the next two rounds,” Sasidaran said.
Coming in fifth was PGM Tour number 16 Akhmal Tarmizee who scored 143 after two rounds.
Despite maintaining his fifth position after two rounds, Akhmal said his game for the second round yesterday was not as good as expected as he was not hitting well.
In joint sixth position were Mohd Amli and Hanafiah Jamil who both carded a score of 144.
S Murthy, the first round leader, only managed to be jointly in the eighth position with Kemarol Baharin, Shaifubari Muda and Khor Kheng Hwai with a score of 145.
“I had a decent game today but my putting was not good. I will try my best for the next two days,” said Murthy, who is ranked number 15 in the PGM Tour.
After the cut off yesterday, 53 professional golfers will play in the next two rounds and the champion will win RM42,000 cash.
Among the Sarawakian professional golfers who qualified to play for the next two rounds were Sofian Kepli, Sulaiman Ibrahim, resident pro Andrew Ratcliffe and former resident pro Abd Samad Abu.
Sarawakian amateur golfers’ performance were also not disappointing with four amateur golfers; Asri Khalid (joint 12th), Malcom Tay (joint 12th), Jordan Tay (joint 35th) and Jordan Lim (joint 50th) qualified to play for the next two rounds as they made it after the cut off.
The golfers will play their third round today with the fourth and final rounds tomorrow.