Maruyama leads Panasonic Open by one stroke

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Kyoto , September 25: Japan ’s Daisuke Maruyama pulled one shot clear of the chasing pack at the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open on Friday to give himself a chance of ending a frustrating four-year title drought.
The 39-year-old carded a solid five-under-par 66 at the Joyo Country Club to lead by one stroke from unheralded Korean, Kim Hyung-sung, who stayed in the title hunt with a 68.
Thai star Prayad Marksaeng produced a blistering inward 30 as he charged into contention with a 67 and will enter the weekend rounds two shots off the pace alongside Japan’s Taichi Teshima and Toru Suzuki, who carded a 66 and 64 respectively.
Co-overnight leader Lam Chih Bing of Singapore and Chinese ace Liang Wen-chong, Asia’s No 1 in 2007, shot 72 and 70 respectively to stay three back in the US$1.5 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
The 38-year-old Maruyama, who won the Asian Tour Qualifying School this year, mixed six birdies against a lone bogey to move into pole position. He credited a new fitness regime and proper dieting for his good run of form where he was second and eighth in his last two tournaments in Japan .
“I’ve been lazy and have not worked hard enough in the past,” said Maruyama, who won the ROC PGA Championship on the Asian Tour in 2000 and the 2005 Fuji Sankei Classic in Japan .
“I will send photos of the meals that I am about to eat to my trainer over the phone and he’ll tell me if it is too much or not. I feel fitter now, especially on this course which is hilly. I feel confident of winning,” added the Japanese, who enjoyed two seasons on the US PGA Tour in 2006 and 2007.
While Maruyama topped the Qualifying School in January, Korea ’s Kim agonisingly missed out by two strokes but he gave himself a chance of winning his biggest tournament with a round that included five birdies and two bogeys.
The 29-year-old Kim, who finished second on the domestic Korean circuit last year with two victories, said: “I didn’t drive it well and my iron play was average. But I putted really good and made most of my putts. My short game worked well and you need that on this course,” said Kim, who has three top-10s in Japan this year.
“After last season, my confidence has gone up. I feel good about my chances and I just need to stay focussed. That will be the most important thing,” he added.
While Kim is searching for his career breakthrough, veteran Prayad is a proven winner with six titles on the Asian Tour and three more in Japan . The 43-year-old produced a superb back nine performance to surge into contention.
“On the front nine, I didn’t play so good. My shots were either short or long on most holes. But on the back nine, I drove the ball better and holed a lot of long putts,” said the Thai, who made 45ft putts on the 13th and 15th holes.
Liang, bidding for a first title in Japan after seven top-three finishes, turned in 33 but tripped up at the 14th hole when he drove his ball out of bounds and then dropped another bogey on 16. However a four-foot birdie on 17 saw him end the day closer to the lead.
“I only made one big mistake on the 14th hole,” said Liang. “I’m feeling good and my swing feels good. Yesterday, I missed several short putts but I worked on the putting stroke and it was better today. I have to think well on this golf course and stay patient,” said Liang.
Lam, who escaped serious injury after he was hit with a club by countryman Mardan Mamat on Monday, slipped three shots back after a round that included two birdies against three bogeys. But the Singaporean is not discounting his chances.
“I bogeyed 17 and nine with a sand wedge in my hand and that was a bit disappointing. But all in all I’m still happy. If you’ve given me this at the start of the week, I’d gladly take it. I’m looking forward to the last two rounds. I can’t control what the others do, I just need to go out there and hope to play like I did yesterday,” said Lam.
Teenage star Ryo Ishikawa, currently Japan’s No 1 following three victories, battled to a 73, which included an ugly triple bogey, to make the halfway cut which was set at four-over-par 146. Ishikawa is tied 51st.

SECOND-ROUND LEADERS
Par 142 (2x71)
135 Daisuke Maruyama (JPN) 69-66
136 Kim Hyung-sung (KOR) 68-68
137 Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 70-67, Taichi Teshima (JPN) 71-66, Toru Suzuki (JPN) 73-64
138 Liang Wen-chong (CHN) 68-70, Toshinori Muto (JPN) 74-64, Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 66-72
139 Azuma Yano (JPN) 68-71, Rick Kulacz (AUS) 68-71
140 Katsumasa Miyamoto (JPN) 67-73, Kim Kyung-tae (KOR) 70-70, Matthew Griffin (AUS) 71-69, Yoshinori Fujimoto [A] (JPN) 70-70, Taigen Tsumagari (JPN) 68-72, Toru Taniguchi (JPN) 68-72, Unho Park (AUS) 71-69, Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 72-68, Tetsuya Hiraguchi (JPN) 66-74


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