Dazzling Chapchai sets Asian Tour
scoring record of 20-under 124
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ASIAN TOUR
New Delhi, March 19: Thai stand-out Chapchai Nirat established a new 36-hole scoring record on the Asian Tour when he fired a second successive 10-under-par 62 for a four-shot lead at the SAIL Open on Thursday.
The big-hitting Chapchai maintained his dazzling form at the Classic Golf Resort to head the field with a staggering 20-under-par 124 aggregate after two rounds, which bettered the previous 36-hole low by three strokes.
Chasing his third victory on the Asian Tour, the 25-year-old Thai, who is nicknamed ‘King Kong’ for his long-driving abilities, sank 11 birdies and dropped his first bogey of the tournament as he matched his first round heroics where he had set a new course record 62.
New Zealand’s Mark Purser maintained the birdie blitz at the Classic course by carding a 63 to trail by four strokes in the US$300,000 event, which is celebrating its second edition. The Asian Tour rookie rolled in nine birdies for an unblemished card.
Wisut Artjanawat, one of Thailand’s upcoming players, fired a 64 to lie a further stroke back on 129 while talented Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar, who secured his first professional victory in a domestic Indian event last week, returned a 64 as well to lie in fourth place, seven shots off the pace.
With conditions warming up during the day, Chapchai’s golf was equally hot as he maintained his march towards his first title of the season.
“I didn’t realise that it would turn out to be so impressive. My putting has been fantastic. I made one-putts on the first six holes and had 23 putts in total,” said a delighted Chapchai, who registered seven birdies in eight holes from the second to ninth holes on the front nine.
He sank four more birdies on his homeward stretch although he dropped a bogey at the 13th following a wayward drive into the trees. Chapchai is confident he can steamroll his way to the SAIL Open title.
“The course is very suitable to my game. I can reach all the par fives in two and the par four holes present birdie opportunities because the fairways are pretty open. But the greens were faster today which made it tricky,” said Chapchai, who shared the previous 36-hole record with David Howell of England and Filipino Frankie Minoza.
Purser, whose father Bryan was a badminton doubles bronze medallist at the 1978 Edmonton Commonwealth Games, continued to impress in his maiden season in Asia. He was seventh at the Asian Tour International in Thailand and tied for 10th place at the Singha Thailand Open two weeks ago.
“I holed every putt today and my iron-play was exceptional. I capitalized on a good start after making birdies on the second, third and fourth holes. I feel I’m on a roll at the moment after the top-10s in my last two events,” said the lanky Purser.
Highly rated Bhullar will be hoping to break through on the Asian Tour and credited his iron play for keeping him within sight of the runaway leader. “All my putts were within 10 feet. I also did well with the lob wedge and sand wedge. My victory last week has given me a lot of confidence. I’m hitting the ball well and I have this good feeling about my game.”
Singapore’s Mardan Mamat and Filipino Antonio Lascuna share fifth place on 132 after matching rounds of 67s.
The halfway cut was set at 140 with 67 players qualifying for the final two rounds, including pre-tournament favourite Jyoti Randhawa of India who shot a 69 for tied 53rd position.
LEADING SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
124 - Chapchai Nirat (THA) 62-62
128 - Mark Purser (NZL) 65-63
129 - Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 65-64
131 - Gaganjeet Bhullar IND) 67-64
132 - Mardan Mamat (SIN) 65-67, Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 65-67
133 - Richard Moir (AUS) 66-67, Prom Meesawat (THA) 68-65, Mars Pucay (PHI) 67-66
134 - Shiv Kapur (IND) 68-66, Will Yanagisawa (USA) 68-66, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 72-62, C. Muniyappa (IND) 68-66, Rahil Gangjee (IND) 67-67
135 - Sujjan Singh IND) 69-66, Ashok Kumar IND) 67-68, Ross Bain (SCO) 67-68, Sushi Ishigaki (JPN) 68-67, Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 67-68, Keith Horne (RSA) 68-67, Artemio Murakami (PHI) 67-68
scoring record of 20-under 124
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ASIAN TOUR
New Delhi, March 19: Thai stand-out Chapchai Nirat established a new 36-hole scoring record on the Asian Tour when he fired a second successive 10-under-par 62 for a four-shot lead at the SAIL Open on Thursday.
The big-hitting Chapchai maintained his dazzling form at the Classic Golf Resort to head the field with a staggering 20-under-par 124 aggregate after two rounds, which bettered the previous 36-hole low by three strokes.
Chasing his third victory on the Asian Tour, the 25-year-old Thai, who is nicknamed ‘King Kong’ for his long-driving abilities, sank 11 birdies and dropped his first bogey of the tournament as he matched his first round heroics where he had set a new course record 62.
New Zealand’s Mark Purser maintained the birdie blitz at the Classic course by carding a 63 to trail by four strokes in the US$300,000 event, which is celebrating its second edition. The Asian Tour rookie rolled in nine birdies for an unblemished card.
Wisut Artjanawat, one of Thailand’s upcoming players, fired a 64 to lie a further stroke back on 129 while talented Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar, who secured his first professional victory in a domestic Indian event last week, returned a 64 as well to lie in fourth place, seven shots off the pace.
With conditions warming up during the day, Chapchai’s golf was equally hot as he maintained his march towards his first title of the season.
“I didn’t realise that it would turn out to be so impressive. My putting has been fantastic. I made one-putts on the first six holes and had 23 putts in total,” said a delighted Chapchai, who registered seven birdies in eight holes from the second to ninth holes on the front nine.
He sank four more birdies on his homeward stretch although he dropped a bogey at the 13th following a wayward drive into the trees. Chapchai is confident he can steamroll his way to the SAIL Open title.
“The course is very suitable to my game. I can reach all the par fives in two and the par four holes present birdie opportunities because the fairways are pretty open. But the greens were faster today which made it tricky,” said Chapchai, who shared the previous 36-hole record with David Howell of England and Filipino Frankie Minoza.
Purser, whose father Bryan was a badminton doubles bronze medallist at the 1978 Edmonton Commonwealth Games, continued to impress in his maiden season in Asia. He was seventh at the Asian Tour International in Thailand and tied for 10th place at the Singha Thailand Open two weeks ago.
“I holed every putt today and my iron-play was exceptional. I capitalized on a good start after making birdies on the second, third and fourth holes. I feel I’m on a roll at the moment after the top-10s in my last two events,” said the lanky Purser.
Highly rated Bhullar will be hoping to break through on the Asian Tour and credited his iron play for keeping him within sight of the runaway leader. “All my putts were within 10 feet. I also did well with the lob wedge and sand wedge. My victory last week has given me a lot of confidence. I’m hitting the ball well and I have this good feeling about my game.”
Singapore’s Mardan Mamat and Filipino Antonio Lascuna share fifth place on 132 after matching rounds of 67s.
The halfway cut was set at 140 with 67 players qualifying for the final two rounds, including pre-tournament favourite Jyoti Randhawa of India who shot a 69 for tied 53rd position.
LEADING SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
124 - Chapchai Nirat (THA) 62-62
128 - Mark Purser (NZL) 65-63
129 - Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 65-64
131 - Gaganjeet Bhullar IND) 67-64
132 - Mardan Mamat (SIN) 65-67, Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 65-67
133 - Richard Moir (AUS) 66-67, Prom Meesawat (THA) 68-65, Mars Pucay (PHI) 67-66
134 - Shiv Kapur (IND) 68-66, Will Yanagisawa (USA) 68-66, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 72-62, C. Muniyappa (IND) 68-66, Rahil Gangjee (IND) 67-67
135 - Sujjan Singh IND) 69-66, Ashok Kumar IND) 67-68, Ross Bain (SCO) 67-68, Sushi Ishigaki (JPN) 68-67, Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 67-68, Keith Horne (RSA) 68-67, Artemio Murakami (PHI) 67-68
Labels: ASIAN TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Thursday, March 19, 2009
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