BRILLIANT BHULLAR FIRES SUPERB 64

TO WIN ASIAN TOUR INTERNATIONAL

India ’s Gaganjeet Bhullar produced a brilliant course record eight-under-par 64 to win the season-open ing Asian Tour International by one shotwith a total of 11-under-par 277 today.
Starting the final round six strokes back, Bhullar reinforced his growing reputation as one of Asia ’s brightest prospects with a superb come-from-behind victory, the second of his career, at the Suwan Golf and Country Club, Bangkok in Thailand
The 21-year-old Indian sank an eagle putt and achieved six birdies for an unblemished card and edged out Korea ’s Hwang Inn-choon, who signed for a 69 for second place on 278 in the US$300,000 event.
Japan ’s Tetsuji Hiratsuka, runner-up last year, took third place with a 68 while overnight leader Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand carded a disappointing 73 to finish tied fourth with Jbe Kruger of South Africa , three behind the winner.
“It’s amazing. I have no words to describe it, I’m totally speechless. When I woke up this morning, I just wanted to shoot a good number. I never ever thought I was going to shoot a 64 and win by one. It’s like a dream coming true. My first event of the year and winning at the start of the season will give me a lot of confidence,” said Bhullar, who pocketed US$47,550.
Bhullar’s title charge was sparked by an eagle at the par five second hole when an eight iron approach stopped three feet of the flag. He nailed four more birdies to turn in 30 and added two more birdies on 15, for the outright lead, and 18 to clinch a memorable triumph with his winning total of 11-under-par 277.
Hwang, who was also chasing his second Asian Tour win, was in the hunt down the straight after overcoming a double bogey on 11 with birdies on 14 and 15. But an errant drive into the hazard on 17 for bogey left him with the tall order of having to eagle the par five last hole to force a play-off which he could only birdie.
Bhullar said: “After 15 where I made a good curling putt, I told myself to make par on 16 and 17 and make birdie on 18. Everything happen ed the way I decided. On 18, it was amazing. I told myself that the putt was to win the tournament.
“It was a crucial one as I had missed the same putt last the two days from the nearly same line. I had a bit of an idea that it would come from the right. I just got lucky. I’m sure my confidence will go up a long way. I’m looking forward to next week (Avantha Masters). It’s a big event and I love the DLF course as I’ve won there twice (on the local circuit). Going back to play in front of the home crowd will give me a great sense of achievement.”
Hwang turned in 33 to lead the field by one but rued costly mistakes on 11 and 17. “I don’t know what hap pen ed with those dropped shots. I kept finding the hazard. On 11, I tried to hook my ball around the tree but it went straight into the water and then the same thing again on 17 when I hooked my drive into the water,” said the Korean.
“I knew I needed an eagle to force a play-off at the last and I hit a good utility wood into the green but had a really tough and long putt. There was no pressure at all and I guess 64 was a really good score by Gaganjeet,” said Hwang.
The burly Kiradech, who had held at least a share of the lead from the opening round, cut a forlorn figure after staggering home with two birdies, one bogey and one double bogey as his hopes of a maiden title vanished.
“I played some good golf and hit many good shots. I made some good putts but kept missing the lines. My caddie and I couldn’t read some lines. On the 16th hole, I was thinking of attacking the pin which was in a difficult location. We were coming down the last few holes and I wanted to do the something. Finishing third, fourth or fifth is the same as my goal was to win the tournament,” said the 20-year-old Kiradech.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
277 Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) 71 71 71 64
278 Hwang Inn-Choon (Kor) 72 70 67 69
279 Tetsuji Hiratsuka (Jpn) 71 72 68 68
280 Jbe Kruger (Rsa) 70 72 69 69, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha) 68 70 69 73
282 Ted Oh (Kor) 76 70 71 65, Lin Wen-Hong (Tpe) 71 74 70 67, Piya Swangarunporn (Tha) 70 72 69 71
283 Lucas Lee (Bra) 68 74 72 69, Antonio Lascuna (Phi) 70 72 71 70, Kenichi Kuboya (Jpn) 73 69 71 70, David Johnson (USA) 71 70 69 73
284 Varut Chomchalam (Tha) 73 72 72 67, Pariya Junhasavasdikul (Tha) 72 72 71 69, Lam Chih Bing (Sin) 69 70 71 74
285 Sattaya Supupramai (Tha) 73 73 71 68, Mars Pucay (Phi) 69 69 76 71, Thammanoon Srirot (Tha) 72 69 72 72, Hideto Tanihara (Jpn) 69 73 72 71, Angelo Que (Phi) 74 67 70 74
286 Lee Sung (Kor) 73 71 72 70, Boonchu Ruangkit (Tha) 72 74 71 69, Wisut Artjanawat (Tha) 72 69 74 71, Toni Karjalainen (Fin) 73 72 70 71, Chan Yih-Shin (Tpe) 72 72 70 72
287 Darren Beck (Aus) 72 72 74 69, Kim Hyung-Tae (Kor) 70 73 73 71, Daisuke Maruyama (Jpn) 73 72 71 71, Siddikur (Ban) 70 74 69 74
288 Lu Wei-Chih (Tpe) 72 73 74 69, Han Seung-Su (Kor) 70 74 75 69, Takao Nogami (Jpn) 73 71 72 72
289 Chaipat Darapanich (Tha) 72 74 74 69, Simon Griffiths (Eng) 73 72 73 71, Pornsakon Tipsanit (Tha) 76 68 73 72, Guido Van Der Valk (Ned) 73 73 71 72, Hiroshi Iwata (Jpn) 73 73 71 72, Scott Barr (Aus) 72 74 70 73
290 Kwanchai Tannin (Tha) 71 72 78 69, Quincy Quek (Sin) 69 73 77 71, Shigemasa Higaki (Jpn) 72 73 75 70, Peter Karmis (Rsa) 73 71 73 73, Jason Knutzon (USA) 68 75 73 74, Kim Dae-Hyun (Kor) 69 73 73 75, S. Sivachandran (Mas) 72 72 72 74
291 Rohan Blizard (Aus) 69 74 77 71, Michio Matsumura (Jpn) 73 73 75 70, Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 71 74 75 71, Ben Leong (Mas) 70 72 75 74, Ben Fox (USA) 70 75 72 74
292 Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 72 73 75 72
293 Yeh Chang-Ting (Tpe) 75 71 71 76
294 Panuwat Muenlek (Tha) 73 72 71 78, James Kamte (Rsa) 73 73 69 79
295 Nakul Vichitryuthasastr (Tha) 73 72 80 70, Simon Dunn (Sco) 72 74 71 78
296 Sean Shahi (USA) 72 73 79 72, Yang Ji-Ho (Kor) 74 70 73 79, Somchai Pongpaew (Tha) 72 72 72 80
297 Jason King (Aus) 72 73 78 74, Peter Cooke (Aus) 71 73 79 74, Richard Karlberg (Swe) 69 77 80 71, Tatsuya Sato (Jpn) 73 70 77 77, Hirohito Koizumi (Jpn) 72 74 72 79
299 Tatsuhiko Ichihara (Jpn) 70 73 78 78, Taichiro Kiyota (Jpn) 71 74 75 79
300 Atiwit Janewattananond (Tha) 69 73 81 77
301 Pavit Tangkamolprasert (Tha) 73 71 74 83
302 Martin Rominger (Swi) 74 72 77 79
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KIRADECH SOARS ON EAGLE’S WINGS AT

ASIAN TOUR INTERNATIONAL

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Bangkok: Thailand ’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat shot a superb eagle on the last hole to open up a two-shot lead after the third round of the season-open ing Asian Tour International today.
Chasing a maiden Asian Tour victory, the burly 20-year-old produced a grandstand finish by converting a 10ft putt following a lucky break and two mighty blows for a three-under-par 69 at the Suwan Golf and Country Club.
Korea ’s Hwang Inn-choon carded the day’s best of 67 to move to second place while Singaporean Lam Chih Bing signed for a 71 to lie a further stroke back in tied third with American rookie David Johnson, who shot a 69.
Filipino Angelo Que (70), last year’s runner-up Tetsuji Hiratsuka of Japan (68), South African Jbe Kruger (69) and Thailand ’s Piya Swangarunporn (69) will start the final round four off the pace.
Kiradech, a former world junior champion, enjoyed a stroke of fortune at the closing par-five hole as his wayward tee shot hit a light post. Under the Tour regulations, it required the player to retake the shot with no penalty and the Thai made sure his second attempt split the fairway. From 225 yards out, he then nailed a four-iron approach shot to 10 feet for his eagle.
“I’m very happy. I played great golf on the back nine. On the front nine, I was struggling with my putts but it came in on the back nine. I got a lucky rule on 18. I hit the light post and I had to rehit it and got a good line on the second shot. If not for the rule, my first drive would have ended up in the 10th fairway,” said Kiradech, who has held the joint lead at the US$300,000 event since the opening day.
He is determined to win on Sunday and erase the disappointment of finishing second at last year’s Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters where he also led by two going into the final round.
“I’ll try to be better than Malaysia . I couldn’t make any putts then but my routine is now different. My coach has been working with me on my putts. That experience will help me and I think it’ll be good tomorrow,” said Kiradech, whose card included four birdies against as many bogeys.
“It’ll be a proud moment for me if I can win at home as my parents are here. I’ll be trying hard.”
The 34-year-old Hwang, winner of the 2008 GS Caltex Maekyung Open on the Asian Tour, wielded a hot putter as he charged into contention with six birdies. He rolled in long putts on the 10th and 13th holes to give himself a chance of a second victory.
“My putting was good and I hit it all the greens in regulation on the back nine and holed a few long putts. It was good. I’m going to try and win this tournament. I like the course as it rewards good drives,” said the Korean, who s pen t a month in Thailand practising in January due to the cold weather in Seoul .
Lam kept up his title bid where a birdie at the last hole eased the disappointment of bogeys on 16 and 17 from missed putts. A winner on the domestic Thai event last weekend, he reckons he can still overhaul the leader.
“It was a good way to finish with a birdie and still be within striking range. It was blowing all day and it made it a lot trickier. I missed two short putts on 16 and 17 but I guess it’s good not to be in the last flight tomorrow. Maybe I can mount a charge from behind,” said Lam.
“It’s easy to make mistakes. You need to go out there and stay patient and hope for the putts to drop.”
Johnson, who graduated from Qualifying School last month, stayed in the hunt with an impressive 69, erasing an open ing bogey with four birdies. “I got the best out of my round and put myself in a good position. Three back, it’s doable on this course. If I just keep focus on what I’m doing, my goal is to play the golf course. Obviously there are great players and I can’t control what the others are doing,” he said.
Like Lam, Que was also victorious in a local event in Manila last weekend and believes the work put in with his coach Bong Lopez is paying off at the scenic Suwan course.
“We worked on some shots into the wind because a lot of holes last week were into the wind and right to left which is one of my weaknesses. I was able to work out something and practiced it the whole week and used it on the course. This week, a lot of the shots are similar and I wouldn’t have dared to hit those shots if I didn’t work it out with Bong,” he said.
“The way I’m hitting it, I could have done better. I’m still happy. I hit it into the water on 18 but managed to get it up and down for par. I guess it’s a good omen.”
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
207 Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha) 68 70 69
209 Hwang Inn-Choon (Kor) 72 70 67
210 David Johnson (USA) 71 70 69, Lam Chih Bing (Sin) 69 70 71
211 Tetsuji Hiratsuka (Jpn) 71 72 68, Jbe Kruger (Rsa) 70 72 69, Angelo Que (Phi) 74 67 70, Piya Swangarunporn (Tha) 70 72 69
213 Siddikur (Ban) 70 74 69, Antonio Lascuna (Phi) 70 72 71, Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) 71 71 71, Kenichi Kuboya (Jpn) 73 69 71, Thammanoon Srirot (Tha) 72 69 72
214 Chan Yih-Shin (Tpe) 72 72 70, Hideto Tanihara (Jpn) 69 73 72, Lucas Lee (Bra) 68 74 72, Mars Pucay (Phi) 69 69 76
215 James Kamte (Rsa) 73 73 69, Toni Karjalainen (Fin) 73 72 70, Lin Wen-Hong (Tpe) 71 74 70, Pariya Junhasavasdikul (Tha) 72 72 71, Kim Dae-Hyun (Kor) 69 73 73, Wisut Artjanawat (Tha) 72 69 74
216 Scott Barr (Aus) 72 74 70, Daisuke Maruyama (Jpn) 73 72 71, Panuwat Muenlek (Tha) 73 72 71, Somchai Pongpaew (Tha) 72 72 72, S. Sivachandran (Mal) 72 72 72, Lee Sung (Kor) 73 71 72, Jason Knutzon (USA) 68 75 73, Takao Nogami (Jpn) 73 71 72, Kim Hyung-Tae (Kor) 70 73 73
217 Simon Dunn (Sco) 72 74 71, Guido Van Der Valk (Ned) 73 73 71, Boonchu Ruangkit (Tha) 72 74 71, Yeh Chang-Ting (Tpe) 75 71 71, Ted Oh (Kor) 76 70 71, Hiroshi Iwata (Jpn) 73 73 71, Ben Fox (USA) 70 75 72, Varut Chomchalam (Tha) 73 72 72, Yang Ji-Ho (Kor) 74 70 73, Pornsakon Tipsanit (Tha) 76 68 73, Peter Karmis (Rsa) 73 71 73, Ben Leong (Mal) 70 72 75, Sattaya Supupramai (Tha) 73 73 71
218 Hirohito Koizumi (Jpn) 72 74 72, Simon Griffiths (Eng) 73 72 73, Pavit Tangkamolprasert (Tha) 73 71 74, Darren Beck (Aus) 72 72 74
219 Lu Wei-Chih (Tpe) 72 73 74, Han Seung-Su (Kor) 70 74 75, Quincy Quek (Sin) 69 73 77
220 Rohan Blizard (Aus) 69 74 77, Chaipat Darapanich (Tha) 72 74 74, Shigemasa Higaki (Jpn) 72 73 75, Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 71 74 75, Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 72 73 75, Taichiro Kiyota (Jpn) 71 74 75, Tatsuya Sato (Jpn) 73 70 77
221 Michio Matsumura (Jpn) 73 73 75, Kwanchai Tannin (Tha) 71 72 78, Tatsuhiko Ichihara (Jpn) 70 73 78
223 Martin Rominger (Swi) 74 72 77, Jason King (Aus) 72 73 78, Peter Cooke (Aus) 71 73 79, Atiwit Janewattananond (Tha) 69 73 81
224 Sean Shahi (USA) 72 73 79
225 Nakul Vichitryuthasastr (Tha) 73 72 80
226 Richard Karlberg (Swe) 69 77 80

MARS AND KIRADECH SHARE LEAD ON 138

AT ASIAN TOUR INTERNATIONAL

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ASIAN TOUR
Thailand ’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat stepped closer to victory at the Asian Tour International today but standing in his way is Filipino Mars Pucay.
The 39-year-old Pucay, who has plied his trade in Asia since 1995 without a win, fired a second successive three-under-par 69 at the Suwan Golf and Country Club, Bangkok to share the halfway lead with co-overnight leader Kiradech, who returned a 70 for a six-under-par 138 total in the US$300,000 season-opening tournament.
One shot back is in-form Singaporean Lam Chih Bing, who also carded a 70 while American rookie David Johnson sneaked into contention with another 70 to lie three shots back with Thai duo Thammanoon Srirot and Wisut Artjanawat and Filipino Angelo Que, who shot the day’s best of 67.
Thai amateur Atiwit Janewattananond wrote a slice of history by becoming the youngest player at 14 years and 71 days to make the halfway cut on the Asian Tour after shooting a 73 for tied eighth place on 142, with amongst others, Malaysia’s Ben Leong, India’s rising star Gaganjeet Bhullar and eight-time Japan Tour winner Hideto Tanihara. Attiwit, a grade eight student and a member of the Thai amateur squad, eclipsed Chinese Taipei’s Lo Shih-kai, who was 14 years and 275 days at the 2003 Taiwan Open.
Pucay kept his round steady with four birdies against a lone bogey. “It was a great day for me. I hit the ball really well except for two tee shots which I managed to save par on the last hole. Other than that, I played really well,” he said.
The veteran Filipino, who holed the season’s first ace on Thursday, said the key this weekend would be to remain patient. “I am waiting for my first win, which is my goal this year. I’ll attack when I have an open chance but if the pins are tucked, I’ll play it safe. It’s tough out there,” said Pucay, who holds 11 career top-10s on the Asian Tour.
Former world junior champion Kiradech turned in 37 but fought back with four birdies and another bogey to keep alive his dreams of a first Asian Tour victory at home. “I had two three-putts for bogeys on the front nine. But on the back nine, I hit it closer to the pins,” said the burly Thai, who finished 30th on the Order of Merit as a rookie last year.
“I am hitting the driver well this week. I’m not feeling nervous at all. As I’m playing in Thailand , my family and friends are here and I’m not feeling too excited. I’m keeping my concentration well.”
Lam kept himself within touching distance of the leaders with a fighting performance. He won a domestic Thai event last weekend but a second Asian Tour triumph is very much the goal for the Singaporean.
“On the front nine, I was struggling but made a lot of par putts and on the back nine, I hit it good but missed a lot of opportunities. I’m still within striking distance. As long as I stay in contention, that’s the key,” said Lam.
“I know my swing pretty well now that when I hit a bad shot, I kind of know what I am doing wrong. My caddie told me to stay patient. On the 15th hole, I hit it to five feet and finally made one. And then I made a 12 footer on the next hole,” he said.
Lam was impressed by Kiradech’s game, saying the Thai could be the man to beat. “Kiradech makes the game look so easy. He hits it long and chips and putts well. He’s much longer than I am, about 20 or 30 yards easy. But at the end of the day, it’s the score that count,” said Lam, who is by no means a short hitter.
Johnson, a 22-year-old from Florida , shot three birdies against a lone bogey to move up the leaderboard on 141. Although it is his first time to Asia, he is feeling right at home in Bangkok.
“I grew up on these sort of stuff (grainy greens) and it’s very refreshing. My goal this year is to give myself an opportunity to play into the final groups and just learn and grow as a professional golfer. I’ve got no expectations. I have put myself in a good position and if I don’t pull it off, the experience will be good enough for me,” said Johnson, who was a semi-finalist in the 2008 US Amateur Public Links Championship.
Defending champion James Kamte of South Africa shot a second straight 73 to make the halfway cut right on the 146 mark, which saw 69 players progressing into the weekend rounds.

SECOND ROUND LEADERS
Par 144 (2x72)
138 Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 68-70, Mars Pucay (PHI) 69-69
139 Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 69-70
141 Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 72-69, David Johnson (USA) 71-70, Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 72-69, Angelo Que (PHI) 74-67
142 Piya Swangarunporn (THA) 70-72, Hwang Inn-choon (KOR) 72-70, Kenichi Kuboya (JPN) 73-69, Lucas Lee (BRA) 68-74, Ben Leong (MAS) 70-72, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 71-71, Hideto Tanihara (JPN) 69-73, Quincy Quek (SIN) 69-73, Jbe Kruger (RSA) 70-72, Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 70-72, Kim Dae-hyun (KOR) 69-73, Atiwit Janewattananond [A] (THA) 69-73

Visit www.asiantour.com for more information and live scoring from final two rounds.

Three share lead on 68 in Asian Tour International

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Thailand’s rising star Kiradech Aphibarnrat battled to a four-under-par 68 to share the first round lead with American Jason Knutzon and Brazilian newcomer Lucas Lee at the season-opening Asian Tour International on Thursday.
The 20-year-old Kiradech, a former world junior champion, rolled in five birdies at the Suwan Golf and Country Club, Bangkok to join Knutzon, who played despite being ill, and Lee atop the leaderboard at the US$300,000 event.
Filipino Mars Pucay shot the season’s first hole in one en route to a 69 to trail in tied fourth place with Singaporean duo Quincy Quek and Lam Chih Bing, Sweden’s Richard Karlberg, Korea’s Kim Dae-hyun, Australian Rohan Blizard, Thailand’s 14-year-old amateur Atiwit Janewattananond and Hideto Tanihara, an eight-time winner in Japan.
Entering the week, the burly Kiradech declared his intention of breaking through for a first title in Asia and a round helped greatly by his big-hitting game pushed him to the forefront.
“I’m very happy. I hit many wedges into the greens and got four birdies from close range. This is my chance to win. I’ll try to keep it up as it’s my goal to win on the Asian Tour,” said Kiradech, who finished 30th on the Order of Merit in his rookie season last year.
“I drove the ball well and my putting was really good. It’s a tough course. The pins were tucked and the greens are really firm and fast. I had to stay patient out there. It’s a very good first round,” added the Thai, who dropped a lone bogey on the 18th hole, his ninth of the day.
Knutzon rose from his sick bed to set the morning pace. The two-time Asian Tour winner has been down with fever for the past two days but he lived up to the adage ‘Beware the sick golfer’ by firing five birdies against a lone bogey.
“It’s pretty amazing when you have something else to think about,” said a weary Knutzon. “Luckily it was pretty cool this morning which helped but I was kind of gassing it in the last few holes. Anytime you shoot under par, it should make you feel a bit better.”
Lee, who is of Korean origin, made the most of his Asian Tour debut by tying for the lead late in the day, thanks to a birdie at his last hole. “I hit a lot of greens and made the putts I needed to make today. I wasn’t hitting a lot of fairways,” said the 22-year-old, who graduated from Qualifying School last month.
It was truly an exhilarating start to the new season, thanks to Pucay’s magical ace at the third hole which came on the back of an eagle as he recovered from an outward 38 to end the day just one off the pace.
“I turned in two over and hit a great five wood to three feet for eagle on the par five second hole. Then I stepped onto the next tee and made a hole in one,” said Pucay. “This ace is my gift for my wife (Leslie) as it’s our 15th wedding anniversary today.”
After 15 years on Tour, Pucay is desperate for a first title. “Hopefully this year, it’ll be time for me to win. I’m going to play more aggressively, especially with my putting. I’ll charge a bit more when I’m in position to win,” he said.
The highly-rated Quek, who earned his card from Qualifying School , was delighted to start strongly where he finished his round in style with a 20-foot birdie conversion. “My putting helped. I drained quite a few longs ones. I was hitting it alright and kept it in play. When I had opportunities, I made them which was nice,” said the 22-year-old.
Defending champion James Kamte of South Africa , whose clubs arrived on Wednesday night, was four under through 10 holes but stumbled home with five bogeys to settle for a 73.
Leading first round scores
Par 72
68 Jason Knutzon ( USA ), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA), Lucas Lee (BRA)
69 Rohan Blizard (AUS), Quincy Quek (SIN), Hideto Tanihara (JPN), Kim Dae-hyun (KOR), Atiwit Janewattananond [A] (THA), Richard Karlberg (SWE), Lam Chih Bing (SIN), Mars Pucay (PHI)
70 Tatsuhiko Ichihara (JPN), Kunal Bhasin (AUS), Ben Fox (USA), Ben Leong (MAS), Antonio Lascuna (PHI), Jbe Kruger (RSA), Han Seung-su (KOR), Frankie Minoza (PHI), Siddikur (BAN), Oscar Fraustro (MEX), Piya Swangarunporn (THA), Kim Hyung-tae (KOR)

Aussie Flint wins Myanmar

Masters by four strokes

NEWS RELEASE ISSUE BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Yangon: Australia ’s Gavin Flint completed a commanding eight-stroke victory in the US$75,000 Air Bagan Myanmar Masters presented by IBTC today to give his season the perfect start.
The Australian, playing on a sponsor’s invite, posted a two-under-par 70 for a four-day total of 12-under-par 276, well clear of Myanmar’s Aung Win who closed with a 74 at the season-o pen ing event of the inaugural Asian Development Tour.
Malaysia ’s Akhmal Tarmizee shot a 75 to share third with Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Chia-jen , Brazil’s Lucas Lee and Spain ’s Gabriel Canizares on matching 286s.
England ’s Nick Redfern carded a 73 for a tied-seventh place with Myanmar ’s Zaw Zin Win on 287.
Flint , who led the event from the second round, maintained a tight grip of his lead at the Pun Hlaing Golf Club to stroll home to victory and give himself a boost ahead of the Asian Tour’s season-o pen ing event, the Asian Tour International in Bangkok next week.
“I’m quite surprised to have come out here and play so well this week. I’m very happy about that and I’m obviously looking forward to going out there and doing it again next week,” said Flint , who finished 49th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit last season.
The Australian was two under on the front nine with four birdies against two bogeys and added another birdie on the 10th before dropping a shot on the 15th as he pocketed the US$15,000 top prize.
The 28-year-old is now determined to end his title drought on the established Asian Tour, having come close to his maiden breakthrough on several occasions. “Hopefully this is a sign of things to come. I want to win on the Asian Tour, that’s my goal. This will be my fifth season so I think it’s time to step it up and go for that win,” said Flint .
Starting the final round four shots behind Flint, local favourite Aung tried to challenge the leader but fell victim to costly bogeys on the ninth and 16th holes as well as a double bogey on the par-three 12th hole.
Aung found some consolation as he earned a place in next week’s full-field Asian Tour event as the leading non-Asian Tour member in the top-five.
“I tried my best to catch Flint but unfortunately, it was not good enough. This has been a good experience playing against a strong field and I look forward to more opportunities like this,” said Aung.
Akhmal fell short of a dream week but he was satisfied with his outing against an international field made up of 19 nationalities this week. “It was not easy playing in a tournament like this. It’s a step up and I really felt the pressure out there. Finishing third is a commendable performance but I think I’ll have to go back and work on my mental strength,” said the Malaysian, a bronze medallist at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games.
Akhmal is also confident that as the Asian Development Tour season progresses, he will be able to earn a place on the established Asian Tour. The leading three players on the Asian Development Tour will earn coveted Asian Tour cards for the following season.
“I’ve taken a lot of positives from this week’s event and I’m sure I’ll become a better player through this experience,” added the Malaysian.
The Asian Development Tour is designed in the same structure as the Nationwide Tour in America and European Challenge Tour to build a career pathway for professional golfers in Asia .
The Tour not only allows aspiring young talent to develop their game through a secondary circuit in Asia , it also provides sponsorship opportunities to local companies hoping to maximize their exposure through the Tour.
Other legs on the Asian Development Tour are being finalised in the Philippines , Chinese Taipei, Indonesia , Thailand , Malaysia , Vietnam and India .
For more information and the latest news on the Asian Development Tour, please visit the Asian Development Tour website at http://www.asiantour.com/adt_home.aspx

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 288 (4x72)

276 Gavin Flint (Aus) 69-66-71-70 (US $15,000).
284 Aung Win (Mya) 70-72-68-74 ($8,625).
286 Akhmal Tarmizee (Mas) 69-69-73-75, Hsu Chia-jen (Tpe) 72-70-69-75, Lucas Lee (Bra) 69-72-71-74, Gabriel Canizares (Spa) 70-75-69-72 ($3,881 each).
287 Zaw Zin Win (Mya) 73-70-71-73, Nick Redfern (Eng) 75-70-69-73 ($2,137 each).
288 Jani Pertilla (Fin) 67-73-74-74, Masaki Sakara (Jap) 71-72-72-75, Lindsay Reynolds (Can) 71-75-69-73, Eltoro Sjoholm (Swe) 71-71-74-72, Kyaw Thiha (Mya) 73-72-71-72, Mardan Mamat (Sing) 71-74-72-71, Soe Kyaw Naing (Mya) 72-74-71-71, Min Naing (Mya) 70-71-76-72 ($1,326 each).

Flint on fire - four shots clear in Myanmar Masters

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIA TOUR
Yangon, January 30: Australia’s Gavin Flint moved closer to lifting the US$75,000 Air Bagan Myanmar Masters presented by IBTC title following a third-round one-under-par 71 today.
The Australian’s three-day total of 10-under-par 206 put him in a commanding four- shot lead over Myanmar ’s Aung Win who returned with a 68 to take second place on 210 at the season-opening event of the inaugural Asian Development Tour.
Malaysia ’s Akhmal Tarmizee added a 73 to his previous rounds of 69 and 69 to take a share of third place alongside Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Chia-jen who posted a 69 for a 211 total.
Brazil’s Lucas Lee is a further shot back in fifth place on 212 while Sweden’s Richard Karlberg recorded the day’s best score of 67 to take a share of sixth place with first round joint-leader Myanmar’s Thein Zaw Myint on 213.
Overnight leader Flint, who enjoyed two top-10s en route to a 49th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit last season, continued his pre-season warm-up by marking his card with birdies on holes seventh, ninth and 13th before dropping shots on the 15th and 16th.
“It’s always nice to be in the lead but there are still 18 more holes to play tomorrow and I hope to be up there on the leaderboard when it all ends,” said Flint of his final round before he heads to Bangkok next week for the start of the 2010 Asian Tour season.
Local prospect Aung who began the day in tied-seventh put in the red numbers with four birdies against one lone bogey on the sixth hole in his opening front-nine.
He recorded further birdies on the 10th and 17th after the turn but dropped another shot on the 13th to eventually sign for a 68. Looking ahead to the all-important final round, Aung hopes to reward the home crowd by taking the contest down to the wire on the final day.
“I played pretty solid today. I stuck to my same game plan for three rounds and I’ll continue to do the same for the final round tomorrow,” said Aung, who attracted the large galleries who had followed him throughout the Pun Hlaing Golf Club.
Despite moving one place down to third, Akhmal was satisfied with his performance all week and is hopeful of ending it on a high note on Sunday.
“My iron shots have been really good. I hit a lot of greens and my putts from longer distance have been really good today,” said the Malaysian, a bronze medallist at the 2007 South East Asia games.
Asian Tour hopeful Lee knows that he needs another good round on the final day before he can secure a dream start at next week’s full field Asian Tour event in Bangkok .
The leading non Asian Tour member who finishes within the top-five will receive a place at the season-opening Asian Tour International in Bangkok next week.
“I’ve always wanted to play on the Asian Tour and I know that I’ve a good chance of doing it if I play one more solid round tomorrow,” said the Brazilian-born Lee.
While a place at next week’s Asian Tour is at stake, a good result at this week’s Air Bagan Myanmar Masters is also crucial for many of the aspiring professionals as the leading three players on the Asian Development Tour will win their coveted Asian Tour cards for the following season.
“My dream is to play on the Asian Tour and I hope to gain more confidence by playing against an international field this week,” said Myanmar ’s Zaw Paing Oo who is nine shots off the lead after carding a 71 for a share of 13th place.
The Asian Development Tour is designed in the same structure as the Nationwide Tour in America and European Challenge Tour to build a career pathway for professional golfers in Asia .
The Air Bagan Myanmar Masters presented by IBTC marks the start of the inaugural Asian Development Tour. Since the announcement of the Asian Development Tour, many regional tournaments have shown a keen interest to support this new and exciting initiative by the Asian Tour.
The Tour not only allows aspiring young talent to develop their game through a secondary circuit in Asia , it also provides sponsorship opportunities to local companies hoping to maximize their exposure through the Tour.
Other legs on the Asian Development Tour are being finalised in the Philippines , Chinese Taipei, Indonesia , Thailand , Malaysia , Vietnam and India .
For more information and the latest news on the Asian Development Tour, visit the Asian Development Tour website at http://www.asiantour.com/adt_home.aspx
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE THIRD-ROUND TOTALS

Asian Developmental Tour Scoreboard
AIR BAGAN MYANMAR MASTERS
Pun Hlaing Golf Club, Yangon, Rangoon, Myanmar
THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
206 Gavin Flint (Aus) 69 66 71
210 Aung Win (Mya) 70 72 68
211 Akhmal Tarmizee (Mal) 69 69 73, Hsu Chia-Jen (Tpe) 72 70 69
212 Lucas Lee (Bra) 69 72 71
213 Thein Zaw Myint (Mya) 67 76 70, Richard Karlberg (Swe) 74 72 67
214 Jani Pertilla (Fin) 67 73 74, Takafumi Kawane (Jpn) 71 70 73, Zaw Zin Win (Mya) 73 70 71, Gabriel Canizares (Spa) 70 75 69, Nick Redfern (Eng) 75 70 69
215 Naing Naing Lin (Mya) 71 71 73, Masaki Sakata (Jpn) 71 72 72, Zaw Paing Oo (Mya) 70 74 71, Lindsay Renolds (Can) 71 75 69
216 Eltoro Sjoholm (Swe) 71 71 74, Kyaw Thiha (Mya) 73 72 71
217 Min Naing (Mya) 70 71 76, Soe Moe Win (Mya) 72 71 74, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 71 74 72, Zaw Moe (Mya) 71 74 72, Soe Kyaw Naing (Mya) 72 74 71, Panuphol Pittayarat (Tha) 75 71 71, Pravee Visalkit (Tha) 75 72 70
218 Hla Myo (Mya) 71 72 75, Stuart Lunn-Walker (Aus) 71 73 74, Michael Tran (Vie) 71 73 74, Lee Jung-Oh (Kor) 74 70 74, Kim Young-Jin (Kor) 75 69 74, Myo Min Aung (Mya) 72 75 71, Kim Gi-Hwan (Kor) 77 72 69, Zaw Zaw Latt (Mya) 75 75 68
219 Myint Shwe (Mya) 74 72 73, Choi Min-Chel (Kor) 77 72 70
220 Myint Thaung (Mya) 72 75 73, Khor Kheng-Hwai (Mal) 77 73 70
221 Scott Taylor (USA) 71 77 73, Tommy Mansuwan (Tha) 75 74 72, Senroku Isa (Jpn) 78 73 70
222 Justin Evans (Eng) 73 77 72
223 Ryan Panichpakdee (USA) 69 79 75, Varan Israbhakdi (Tha) 74 75 74
224 Haziq Hamizan (Mal) 71 79 74, M.Sasidaran (Mal) 73 77 74, Nguyen Thai Duong (Vie) 71 80 73
225 Stephen Lindskog (Swe) 74 76 75
226 Mitchell Slorach (Sin) 72 70 84, Hirotaro Naito (Jpn) 76 74 78, Airil Rizman (Mal) 75 76 75
229 Hanafiah Jamil (Mal) 75 75 79

Gavin Flint leads by three at Myanmar Masters

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Yangon: Australia’s Gavin Flint posted a six-under-par 66 to open up a three-shot lead after the second round of the US$75,000 Air Bagan Myanmar Masters presented by IBTC on Friday.
The Australian’s two-day total of nine-under-par 135 moved him atop the leaderboard with Malaysia’s Akhmal Tarmizee trailing closely behind in second place on 138 at the season-opening event of the inaugural Asian Development Tour.
Overnight joint-leader Jani Pertilla of Finland slipped two places down to third after carding a 73 for a 140 total while Brazil ’s Lucas Lee added a 72 to his opening 69 to take a share of fourth place alongside Myanmar ’s Min Naing and Japan ’s Takafumi Kawane on 141.
Flint , who is making his first visit to Myanmar , is clearly delighted with the way he has been playing and sees this as a good build-up to his maiden Asian Tour title quest in Bangkok next week.
The Australian who enjoyed two top-10s en route to a 49th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit last season posted a bogey-free round highlighted by six birdies at the Pun Hlaing Golf Club.
“I hope to carry this good form over to next week’s full field Asian Tour event. This is a good warm-up event especially in a competitive environment and I hope to continue playing well,” said the Australian.
Meanwhile Akhmal overcame the disappointment of missing out on his full playing rights on the Asian Tour at the recent Qualifying School by marking his card with one eagle on the par-five fourth hole, three birdies and two bogeys.
“I missed out on a top-40 finish at Qualifying School by one shot. It was a disappointing but I’ve got over it and I’m focusing my efforts on a solid performance this week,” said Akhmal who represented Malaysia at the 2007 South East Asia Games where he won a bronze medal.
Pertilla surprised even himself after he mixed four birdies against three bogeys and a double bogey on the par-four 16th to stay in contention.
“Honestly, this is my first time playing out here in Myanmar and I came here not knowing what to expect initially,” said the Finn.
He had earlier missed the cut during the first stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School and he is eager to play his way back into the Asian Tour this week.
"I am pretty pleased with myself today. The conditions out there were great and I stuck to my game plan," added Pertilla.
Brazilian-born Lee, who secured his full playing rights at the Asian Tour Qualifying School earlier this month, is also pleased that his good form is carrying over to this week’s event.
“I’m really happy with the way I’ve been playing. I’m feeling confident about my game and it’s a good warm up to my first full-field Asian Tour event next week,” said the 23-year-old Brazilian who is now living in the United States .
A good result at this week’s Air Bagan Myanmar Masters is crucial for many of the aspiring professionals as the leading three players on the Asian Development Tour will win their coveted Asian Tour cards for the following season.
A total of 51 players made the weekend cut which was set at seven-over par.
The Asian Development Tour is designed in the same structure as the Nationwide Tour in America and European Challenge Tour to build a career pathway for professional golfers in Asia .
The Air Bagan Myanmar Masters presented by IBTC marks the start of the inaugural Asian Development Tour. Since the announcement of the Asian Development Tour, many regional tournaments have shown a keen interest to support this new and exciting initiative by the Asian Tour.
The Tour not only allows aspiring young talents to develop their game through a secondary circuit in Asia , it also provides sponsorship opportunities to local companies hoping to maximize their exposure through the Tour.
Other legs on the Asian Development Tour are being finalised in the Philippines , Chinese Taipei, Indonesia , Thailand , Malaysia , Vietnam and India .
For more information and the latest news on the Asian Development Tour, please visit the Asian Development Tour website at http://www.asiantour.com/adt_home.aspx

LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
135 Gavin Flint (Aus) 69 66
138 Akhmal Tarmizee (Mas) 69 69
140 Jani Pertilla (Fin) 67 73
141 Lucas Lee (Bra) 69 72, Min Naing (Mya) 70-71, Takafumi Kawane (Jap) 71-70
142 Mitchell Slorach (Sin) 72 70, Naing Naing Lin (Mya) 71-71, Aung Win (Mya) 70-72, Eltoro Sjoholm (Swe) 71 71, Hsu Chia-jen (Tpe) 72 70

Lee Harper misses out by 10 shots

at Asian Final Qualifying School

NEWS RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR
Hua Hin , Thailand , January 16: Filipino Artemio Murakami defeated Guido Van Der Valk of Holland in a play-off at the 2010 Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage presented by Sports Authority of Thailand on Saturday.
Murakami and Van Der Valk, who both lost their Asian Tour cards last season, returned to the 18th hole after firing a final round 70 and 69 respectively to tie on 12-under-par 275 in regulation play at the Springfield Royal Country Club.
The duo birdied the first play-off hole which led to a dramatic second play-off hole as both their approach shots found water. Van Der Valk failed to recover and hit his fourth shot into the water for the second time.
Murakami’s second attempt landed safely on the green and he sank his putt for par and the victory. The 2007 Iskandar Johor Open winner led a total of 45 players who earned their Tour cards.
“From our angle, the sun was facing directly at us and we could not see where the green was! It was a really tough shot which both of us failed to make,” said Murakami.
Mark Foster (69) of England , a one-time European Tour winner, finished in tied third on 276 alongside overnight leader and two-time Japan Tour winner Katsumune Imai (74) of Japan .
Singapore ’s Quincy Quek finished tied 11th after his round of 74. Thailand ’s Pol Kemmarat was the only Thai who earned his Tour card after signing off with a 70 to finish in tied 28th place.
Frenchman Jean Van De Velde failed in his second attempt at the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage after finishing in tied 67th place. Vietnamese Tran Le Duy Nhat, vying to be the first Vietnamese to make the grade, also finished outside the top-40.
Murakami was delighted to make a swift return to the Asian Tour after posting four birdies against two bogeys in regulation play.
“Overall my game clicked this week. I was struggling with my putting last year but it seems to be coming together again. It is always good to start with a victory and hopefully it will spur me on to more success this year,” said Murakami.
Despite his defeat, Van Der Valk remained optimistic and is confident that he will bounce back.
“There’s always a winner and loser in a play-off and it is too bad that I had to lose. The glaring sunlight did not help but I’m looking ahead to better performances on the Asian Tour and maybe try to go one up,” said the Dutchman who mixed his card with six birdies and three bogeys.
Quek, a former individual and team winner in the Putra Cup during his amateur days, made the turn in 40 but managed to recover with two birdies on the 11th and 12th holes.
“It was disappointing not to have a better result but I still made the grade and that’s what’s important. My game has matured and I’m feeling more confident. I’m looking forward to playing more on the Asian Tour and taking it to the next level,” said the Singaporean.
Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, missed out by 10 shots after a disappointing last round of 79 for 295.
The Sports Authority of Thailand also announced today that they will continue to sponsor the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage for a further three years, extending their sponsorship to 2014.



FINAL TOTALS
Par 287 (3x72, 1x71)


275 Artemio Murakami (Phi) 67 73 65 70, Guido Van Der Valk (Net) 70 70 66 69
(Murakami won sudden-death play-off at second hole)
276 Mark Foster (Eng) 65 75 67 69, Katsumune Imai (Jap) 65 70 67 74
277 Yang Ji-ho (SKo) 70 70 72 65, Peter Cooke (Aus) 69 72 68 68, Han Seung-su (SKo) 65-71-71-70, Tim Sluiter (Net) 67-67-69-74
278 Matthew Rosenfeld (US) 70 71 69 68, Eltoro Sjoholm (Swe) 70 70 70 68
279 Richard Moir (Aus) 70-71-73-65, Ross Bain (Sco) 68 70 71 70, Kunal Bhasin (Aus) 68-71 68 72, Sean Shahi (US) 70-70-67-72, Azuma Yano (Jap) 69 66 70 74, Toni Karjalainen (Fin) 72 66 67 74, Quincy Quek(Sing)71-68-66-74
280 Kenichi Kuboye (Jap) 74 71 66 69, Alexandre Rocha (Brazil) 69 70 71 70, Richard Karlberg(Swe) 71 69 70 70, Kim Young-jin (Sko) 69 75 69 67, David Johnson (US) 70 67 70 73
281 Corey Harris (US) 70 74 68 69, Brad Smith (Aus) 71 66 71 73.
282 Ben Fox (US) 70 69 69 74, Takao Nogami (Jap) 71 72 70 69, Simon Dunn (Sco) 68 71 74 69. 283 Chang Tse-Peng (Taip) 70 68 76 69, Ferdinand Aunzo (Phi) 72 72 68 71, Taichiro Kiyota (Jap) 73 70 69 72, Hirotaro Naito (Jap) 69 71 72 71, Marvin Dumandan (Phi) 70 70 69 74, Sam Osborne (Eng) 66 72 74 71, Pol Kemmarat (Thai) 71 69 73 70, Baek Seuk-Hyun (SKo) 70 68 68 77.


284 P Gunasegaran (Malaysia) 75 69 74 66, Martin Rominger (Swi) 73 69 69 73, Peter Karmis (Rsa) 67 74 69 74, Lucas Lee (Brazil) 71 69 73 71.


285 Oscar Fraustro (Mex) 72 70 74 69, Jay Bayron (Phi) 72 71 72 70, Rohan Blizard (Aus) 72 71 71 71, Chiang Chen-Chih (Taip) 72 67 71 75, J S Kim (SKo) 69 69 74 73, Jason King (Aus) 68 73 72 72, Choi Jin-Ho (SKo) 74 71 69 71


FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR PLAYING RIGHTS
286 Tatsuhiko Takahashi (Jap) 70 72 73 71, Josh Smith (Aus) 73 68 74 71, Pasamet Pogamnerd (Thai) 68 72 74 72, Pavit Tangkamolprasert (Thai) 66 73 72 75, Akhmal Tarmizee (Malayasia) 75 67 68 76, Masaki Sakata (Jap) 65 70 77 74, Scott Arnold (Aus) 70 75 68 73, Edward Loar (US) 71 73 70 72, Namchok Tantipokakul (Thai) 72 73 69 72.
287 Daniel Im (US) 71 73 73 71, Xiao Zhi-Jin (China) 72 82 81 82, Lee Don-Ha (SKo) 72 68 74 73, Yoshinobu Tsukada (Jap) 69 76 69 73, Tran Le Duy Nhat (Viet) 73 70 68 76, Creighton Honeck (US) 69 73 68 77, Pasi Purhonen (Fin) 70 69 71 77, Joshua Kelley (US) 70 68 74 75, Hsieh Tung-Shu (Taip) 70 70 73 74, Hseij Chin-Sheng (Taip) 71 73 70 73, Bryan Saltus (US) 73 71 70 73.
288 Ronnachai Jamnong (Thai) 71 70 74 73, Jean Van De Velde (Fra) 72 73 70 73, Poosit Supupramai (Thai) 69 69 79 71, Hong Soon-Sang (SKo) 69 74 72 73, Kiyoshi Miyazato (Jap) 71 74 70 73, Kwon Ki-taek (SKo) 72 70 72 74, Daisuke Kataoka (Jap) 72 71 71 74.


289 Peter Wilson (Eng) 75 70 72 72, Nick Jones (US) 73 67 75 74, Dok Rea Noh (SKo) 74 69 75 71, Lee Jin-Won (SKo) 69 74 72 74, Jason Kang (U~S) 74 71 70 74, Jun Kikuchi (Jap) 68 73 73 75, Choi Min-Chel (SKo) 70 73 71 75, Shukree Othman (Malaysia) 72 67 72 78, Baaz Mann (India) 68 73 70 78, Cho Hyun-woo (Sko) (am) 67 75 69 78, Rafael Ponce (Ecu) 71 74 67 77, Richard Wallis (Eng) 73 71 70 70.


290 Tye Alexander (US) 69 763 74 74, Jake Grodzinsky (US) 72 71 72 75.


291 T J Kim (SKo) 69 73 74 75, Gabriel Canizares (Spa) 70 71 75 75, Lee Dae-jun (SKo) 70 67 81 73, Peter Shaw (Aus) 70 74 75 72.


292 Hsu Chia-Jen (Tai) 71 74 71 76, Hong Chia-Yuh (Taip) 75 70 75 72, Ashok Kumar (India) 76 67 70 79.


293 Takafumi Kawane (Jap) 72 70 74 77, Senroku Isa (Jap) 70 75 74 74.


295 Lee Harper (Sco) 69 73 76 79, Ryan Panichpakdee (US) 71 72 75 77.


296 Siddikur Ban 72 73 74 77, Sung Ji-boo (SKo) (am) 70 73 79 74, Piya Swabgaryboirb *(Thai) 67 74 81 74.


298 Masahiko Wada (Jap) 71 73 77 77.


299 Liao Gui-Ming (China) 70 75 78 76.


300 Choengchai Panpumpo (Thai) 73 72 76 79.


303 Lu Tze-Shyan (Taip) 74 71 77 81.

One round to go in Thailand with 40 cards to be won

Lee Harper (76) has last-round mountain to climb

Lee Harper's hopes of winning an Asian Tour card slumped in today's third round of the Final Qualifying School at Hua Hin, Thailand. The former Scottish boys' match-play champion from Musselburgh, now attached to Archerfield Links, was going along nicely with opening rounds of 69 and 71 ... but he took 76 strokes in the third round to drop to a share of 82nd place on 216.
Only the leading 40 cards after Saturday's fourth and final round will gain playing rights for the 2010 Asian Tour.
After three rounds, the leading 40 and ties are on three-under-212 - England's Sam Osborne is one of them - which means that Lee Harper has to improve roughly from one over par to three under for the event over the course of the final round. Not an impossible task but a tall order for the Scot.
Scottish exile Ross Bain is still in contention for one of these precious cards after a 71 for 209 but Simon Dunn has slipped down to joint 45th place on 213 after a 74.

Dutchman Sluiter leading European at Asian Tour Q School

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Hua Hin , Thailand: Katsumune Imai of Japan charged into the third round lead at the 2010 Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage today but hot on his heels is former Asian Tour winner, Artemio Murakami of the Philippines and Singapore ’s rising star Quincy Quek.
Imai, a two-time Japan Tour winner, fired a five-under-par 67 for a 13-under-par 202 total to lie one-stroke ahead of Tim Sluiter of the Netherlands who fired a closing eagle en route to a 69 for a 203 total at the Springfield Royal Country Club.
Murakami and Quek stayed in touch with the leader after battling to a 65 and 66 respectively to take a share of third position alongside Toni Karjalainen (67) of Finland and Japanese Azuma Yano (70) on 205.
Tran Le Duy Nhat of Vietnam put himself in prime position to make history on the Asian Tour after his round of 68 placed him in tied 28th position. The top 40 and ties will earn playing rights on the Asian Tour and no Vietnamese has earned a Tour card previously.
Bryan Saltus of the United States and Frenchman Jean Van De Velde, famous for finishing second in the 1999 Open at Carnoustie won by Paul Lawrie, will have a battle on their hands as they lie in tied 54th and 70th place respectively.
Imai was delighted to take the lead after sinking a birdie on the final hole. The Japanese, playing in his first Asian Tour Qualifying School , is hoping a victory this week will spur him on to more success in Asia .
“I was lucky with my birdie on the last hole as it gives me a one-stroke cushion tomorrow. Everything clicked for me so I got no complaints. There’s no playing safe tomorrow, I’m going to try and win it,” said Imai.
Quek, an individual and team medalist winner in the Putra Cup during his amateur days, posted a remarkable eight birdies against one double bogey on the 15th hole to charge up the leaderboard.
“It helps when you are in a good position after three rounds as it puts a bit of pressure off. I’m pretty comfortable with the way I’m playing. I don’t feel much pressure this week. Game wise I have matured since my amateur days and that has definitely helped,” said the 22-year-old.
Playing from the back nine, Murakami, winner of the 2007 Iskandar Johor O pen , fired a remarkable seven birdies but it was a chip in save for par on the 16th hole which was the turning point for him.
“Everything was solid. My tee to green was excellent. I have been struggling with my putting the entire season but sometimes you get a good day and today were one of those good days,” said Murakami.
Tran, who played on a mini professional tour in the United States as an amateur for two years, got off to a bright start. He posted an early birdie followed by an eagle three on the second hole where he sank his 20 foot putt from the edge of the green.
“You can always say that ‘I could have done this or that’ but four-under is a good score. I wasn’t really nervous because I had a three-stroke advantage going into my last few holes and that kept me composed,” said the 20-year-old Tran who turned professional in 2008.
Saltus, the 2007 Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open champion, mixed his card with four birdies against two bogeys for a fighting chance to break into the top 40.
“I know where I need to be and if I play decent tomorrow, I will be fine. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself and next to Jean (Van De Velde), I probably got the most experience here so I’m really feeling at home,” said Saltus who failed to retain his Tour card after finishing outside the top 65 on the Asian Tour Order of Merit last season.
LEADING THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 215 (2x72, 1x71)
202 Katsumune Imai (Jap) 65 70 67
203 Tim Sluiter (Net) 67 67 69
205 Quincy Quek (Sing) 71 68 66, Artemio Murakami (Phi) 67 73 65, Toni Karjalainen (Fin) 72 66 67, Azuma Yano (Jap) 69 66 70
206 Guido Van Der Valk (Net) 70 70 66 Baek Seuk-Hyun (Kor) 70 68 68
207 Sean Shahi (US) 70 70 67, Kunal Bhasin (Aus) 68 71 68, Mark Foster (Eng) 65 75 67, David Johnson (US) 70 67 70, Han Seung-su (Kor) 65 71 71
208 Ben Fox (US) 70 69 69, Brad Smith (Aus) 71 66 71
209 Marvin Dumandan (Phi) 70 70 69, Ross Bain (Sco) 68 70 71, Peter Cooke (Aus) 69 72 68.
210 Richard Karlberg (Swe) 71 69 70, Chiang Chen-Chih (Taip) (am) 71 67 71, Alexander Rocha (Braz) 69 70 71, Eltoro Sjoholm (Swe) 70 70 70, Pasi Purhonen (Fion) 70 69 71, Matthew Rosenfeld (US) 70 71 69, Peter Karmis (SAf) 67 74 69, Aljmai Tarmizee (Malaysia) 75 67 68, Creighton Honeck (US) 69 73 68 (jt 19th).
Selected scores:
212 Sam Osborne (Eng) 66 72 74 (jt 35th).
213 Scott Arnold (Aus) 70 75 68, Simon Dunn (Sco) 68 71 74 (jt 45th).
214 Richard Wallis (Eng) 73 71 70, Rohan Blizard (Aus) 72 71 71 (jt 54th).
215 Jean Van de Velde (Fra) 72 73 70 (jt 70th).
216 Lee Harper (Sco) 69 71 76 (jt 82nd).
217 Peter Wilson (Eng) 75 70 72 (jt 90th).

Wallace Booth (80) crashes out of Asian Tour Q School

Rookie pro Wallace Booth missed the halfway cut after a disastrous second-round 80 in the Asian Tour Final Qualifying School at Hua Hin, Thailand today.
The Walker Cup player from Comrie, Perthshire had looked a certainty to get through to the last two rounds at least after an opening round of 69 at the par-72 Springfield Royal Country Club. But he crashed to a nine-over-par score over the par-71 Palm Hills Golf Club lay-out.
His two-round tally of six-over 149 was four shots too many for the Scot to figure among the 105 players who made the cut with totals of 145 or better.
Three other Scots are still in the hunt for the 40 Asian Tour players' cards up for grabs at the end of 72 holes.
Scottish exiles Ross Bain (70 for 138) and Simon Dunn (71 for 139) are in the top 20 at the moment while former Scottish boys' match-play champion Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) from Musselburgh) is tied for 26th place after a par-matching 71 at Palm Hills for 140.

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Hua Hin , Thailand: Tim Sluiter of Holland gave a huge boost to his two-month old professional career by taking the halfway lead at the 2010 Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage presented by Sports Authority of Thailand today.
The 20-year-old Dutchman fired an eagle and four birdies en route to a second round five-under-par 67 at the par-72 Springfield Royal Country Club for a two-day nine-under-par 134 total.
Three-time Japan Tour winner, Azuma Yano, also playing at Springfield, fired a 66 to take a share of second position alongside compatriots Masaki Sakata and Katsumune Imai who shot identical 70s at the par-71 Palm Hills Golf Club.
A total of 105 players made the weekend rounds after the cut was set at two-over-par 145.
Talented Singaporean Quincy Quek, Frenchman Jean Van De Velde and Tran Le Duy Nhat, aiming to be the first Vietnamese to earn playing rights on the Asian Tour, are among those in the running for a top-40 finish to secure playing rights in the new Asian Tour season.
Past Asian Tour winners Artemio Murakami of the Philippines , Bryan Saltus of the United States and Edward Loar of the United States are also in the mix together with two Chinese players, Xiao Zhi-jin and Liao Gui-ming.
Starting from the back, Sluiter shot three consecutive birdies from the seventh hole but he was particularly delighted with an eagle 3 after a superb seven iron approach left him with a simple 2ft eagle putt on the 18th hole.
“I’m playing fairly good especially in the windy conditions. I stayed patient and that helped. I haven’t felt as comfortable as this in a while.
“Finishing in the top 10 will be great but I’m trying to win it. I’m not going out there and try to shoot even par. I’m going to make an effort to make a lot of birdies. Winning would definitely be a great start for me on the Asian Tour,” said the Dutchman.
Quek, who won the Putra Cup team and individual titles during his amateur days, put himself in a good position of securing a top-40 spot after posting a second round 68 to lie in tied 17th place.
“When I came to Qualifying School last year, I was still an amateur and had the thought of coming out here and just whacking the ball! This year, after experiencing some tournaments on the Asian Tour, you learn to play conservatively when you have to and charge when you need to,” said Quek.
Tran, 20, is on the brink of writing a slice of history for his country after firing six birdies against four bogeys en route to a 70 to lie in tied 63rd place, giving himself a fighting chance over the closing two rounds.
“I was pretty nervous and excited at the same time as I was coming down the last few holes because I know I’m getting closer to my dream. I just need to hold it together and hopefully I can breakthrough in the top-40,” said Tran.
LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 143 (72+71)
134 Tim Sluiter (NED) 67 67
135 Azuma Yano (JPN) 69 66, Masaki Sakata (JPN) 65 70, Katsumune Imai (JPN) 65 70
136 Han Seung-su (KOR) 65 71
137 Lee Dae-jun (KOR) 70 67, David Johnson (USA) 70 67, Brad Smith (AUS) 71 66
138 Toni Karjalainen (FIN) 72 66, Sam Osborne (ENG) 66 72, Baek Seuk-Hyun (KOR) 70 68, Joshua Kelley (USA) 70 68, Poosit Supupramai (THA) 69 69, Ross Bain (SCO) 68 70, J S Kim (KOR) 69 69, Chang Tse-Peng (TPE) 70 68
139 Ben Fox ( USA ) 70 69, Pasi Purhonen (FIN) 70 69, Simon Dunn (Sco) 68 71 (jt 17th).
Selected scores:
140 Mark Foster (Eng) 65 75, Lee Harper (Sco) 69 71 (jt 26th).
143 Rohan Blizard (Aus) 72 71 (jt 63rd).
144 Richard Wallis (Eng) 73 71 (jt 78th).
145 Peter Wilson (Eng) 75 70, Jean Van de Velde (Fra) 72 73 (jt 89th).
MISSED THE CUT
(105 players with totals of 145 or better qualified for the last two rounds).
147 Neil Chaudhuri (Eng) 73 74, Yasin Ali (Eng) 76 71 (jt 115th).
148 Nick Redfern (Engh) 71 77 (jt 126th).
149 Wallace Booth (Sco) 69 80 (jt 136th).
153 Michael Slorach (Eng) 76 77 (jt 157th).

Great start for Scots: Bain, Dunn

on 68, Booth, Harper 20th on 69

Wallace Booth and Lee Harper have both made a flying start to the Asian Tour Final Qualifying School in Thailand. They both 69s over the par-72 Springfield course to be lying joint 20th overall in a combined field of 169 players. All in all it was a good day for the Scots - Ross Bain and Simon Dunn both hit the 68 mark, also over the Jack Nicklaus-designed Springfield lay-out.

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Hua Hin, Thailand: Japanese duo Katsumune Imai and Masaki Sakata shared the first round limelight alongside Englishman Mark Foster and Han Seung-su of Korea at the 2010 Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage presented by Sports Authority of Thailand on Wednesday.
The quartet, who all played at the par-72 Springfield Royal Country Club, posted matching seven-under-par 65s to open up a one-stroke lead.
Sam Osborne of England shot a 66 at the par-71 Palm Hills Golf Club to tie for fifth place alongside Thailand ’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert.
The Final Stage is played over two courses at Springfield Royal Country Club and Palm Hills Golf Club. The final two rounds will be played at Springfield Royal Country Club where the top-40 and ties will earn playing privileges on the Asian Tour.
Former Asian Tour winner Artemio Murakami of the Philippines , South African Peter Karmis and amateur golfer Cho Hyun-woo of Korea are among five players tied in seventh place on 67.
Frenchman Jean Van De Velde, a former British Open runner-up, posted a 72 to lie in tied 83rd place.
Imai, 37, closed with a superb back nine performance when he returned with a record equaling 28 highlighted by six birdies and one eagle where he sank a five-yard chip in from the edge of the 12th hole.
The two-time Japan Tour winner signed off with further birdies on 17 and 18 which he sank from six feet.
“My putting on the front nine was horrible but everything started to fall together on the back nine. Overall, it was a great round except for my single bogey.
“After losing my Japan Tour card last year, I decided to play somewhere different so opted to play this week. I hope I can earn my card and achieve success here,” said Imai.
Starting on the back nine, Foster, a one-time winner in Europe , got off to a good start when he birdied the 13th hole before reeling in six more birdies in a bogey free round.
“The difficult part this week is getting comfortable on the greens and my putting didn’t let me down. I’m very pleased with my round. I wanted to get off to a good start and I managed to achieve that,” said the 34-year-old Foster.
Han, 23, was delighted to fire an eagle three on the 18th hole to take a share of the lead. The Korean, who is based in the United States , converted a five foot putt after a great approach shot.
“I felt really confident from the start to the end. I will take 65 anytime. I played well in the first stage so my confidence has been growing. I have been working a lot on my swing and I think that has started to pay off.
“I grew up in Korea and later moved to the United States so I always had a thing for Asia . A lot of my friends tell me that this is a good place to play so I wanted to give it a try. I just hope everything works out good,” said Han.
Tangkamolprasert led the Thai charge after finding 16 greens en route to a flawless round sprinkled with six birdies.
“I have been practising on this course for the past week and it is starting to pay off. My driving and putting worked very well. Today is one of those days where everything was easy for me,” said the Thai.
South Korea has the highest number of participants with 24 players playing this week followed by Japan (18), the United States (17), Thailand (17) and Australia (15). The Qualifying School has attracted players from various countries such as China , South Africa , India and Holland .
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
+Two courses being used: Springfield (par 72) & Palm Hills (par 71)
65 Mark Foster (Eng), Katsumune Imai (Jpn), Masaki Sakata (Jpn), Han Seung-su (Kor)
66 Pavit Tangkamolprasert (Tha), Sam Osborne (Eng)
67 Peter Karmis (Rsa), Artemio Murakami (Phi), Piya Swangarunporn (Tha), Cho Hyun-woo (Kor), Tim Sluiter (Ned)
68 Pasamet Pogamnerd (Tha), Kunal Bhasin (Aus), Kim Kook-Hyan (Kor), Ross Bain (Sco), Simon Dunn (Sco), Baaz Mann (Ind), Jun Kikuchi (Jpn), Jason King (Aus)
Selected scores:
69 Wallace Booth (Sco), Lee Harper (Sco) (jt 20th).
71 Nick Redfern (Eng) (jt 63rd).
72 Jean Van de Velde (Fra) (jt 83rd).
73 Neil Chaudhuri (Eng), Richard Wallis (Eng) (jt 105th).
76 Peter Wilson (Eng), Yasin Ali (Eng) (jt 136th).

Asian Tour Final Q School test for Wallace

Booth, Lee Harper and Van De Velde

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ASIAN TOUR

Hua Hin , Thailand: A bevy of talented players will chase their dreams of securing playing rights in Asia when the Asian Tour Qualifying School Presented by Sports Authority of Thailand, starts on Wednesday.
Open championship runner-up at Carnoustie in 1999, Jean Van De Velde of France will headline the field that includes past Asian Tour winners, Kane Webber of Australia , Harmeet Kahlon of India , Filipino Artemio Murakami and the American trio of Edward Loar, Clay Devers and Bryan Saltus.

Scots who have come through the Stage 1 eliminators are rookie pro and last year's Walker Cup team member Wallace Booth (Comrie) and past Scottish boys champion and EuroPro Tour event winner Lee Harper (Archerfield Links).
The Asian Tour Qualifying School will be played over two courses at the Jack Nicklaus designed Springfield Royal Country Club and Palm Hills Golf Club. Players will play on alternate courses for the first two rounds while the final two rounds will be played at Springfield Royal Country Club.
Having missed the cut to secure his Tour card in 2007, Van De Velde will need to shake-off a bout of food poisoning to earn his playing privileges in Asia where 28 tournaments with total prize fund of US$39 million will be staged this season.
“I decided to play more golf in Asia because my wife and kids are based in Hong Kong and Asia is where my life is now. Asia is exciting, there are good tournaments and great players.
“I need a change of scenery as well. After playing 20 years in Europe , I decided that it is time to do something different,” said Van De Velde.
Four Chinese hopefuls, Shang Lei, Liao Gui Ming, Kong Wei Hai and Chen Jian, who are sponsored by Liang Wen-chong, Asia ’s number one in 2007, are also in the mix.
Liang, who sponsored the quartet through his foundation, hopes they will win spots in Asia and further harness their talents.
“Those four young players have rich experience and potential, they share key role in China golf’s development. So we hope they can get a great result and have an opportunity to attend the 2010 Asian Tour,” said Liang.
Murakami, the 2007 Iskandar Johor Open winner, who failed to retain his Tour card last season after finishing in 70th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, is hoping to bounce back and re-capture his Tour card.
“I have been practising a lot in the Philippines , and I’m hitting it much better now. It all comes down to putting as it was the main reason why I have been playing so badly last year.
“I missed all the cuts in the big events last season and it was disappointing. That really cost me. My aim now is to get into the top-40 and try to win again on the Asian Tour,” said Murakami, who won a junior tournament at the Springfield Royal Country Club in 1998.
Rory Hie, who won a tournament in Indonesia last month, is determined to repeat last year’s feat where he became the first Indonesian to earn playing rights on the Asian Tour.
“Last year was a learning curve for me and I hope to put it to good use. A lot of top players are consistent with their game and that’s what I need to do. My form is now back on track and hopefully I can earn my card again,” said Hie.

Stenson is Monty's hero as Europe beat Asians

Europe, trailing at the end of the first day, pulled off an encouraging victory against Asia today in a tightly fought Royal Trophy match-play event, with Henrik Stenson picking up a shot on the final hole to secure an 8 1/2-7 1/2 victory at Chonburi, Thailand today.
Stenson's singles opponent, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, faced a 15-foot putt on the 18th to take his match and square the three-day event at 8-8 to force a play-off, but the ball came up inches from the hole. The Swede, ranked seventh in the world, then sank a 7ft putt to square the match and give Europe victory in the three-day event.
"All credits to my team for fighting. We all contributed at least one point this week," European captain Colin Montgomerie said. "Congratulations to my team. Good start to the year for European golf."
Asia's non-playing captain Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki captain praised the Europeans but said he was "pleased" with his team's performance. He said he remained convinced until the end the two teams would end in a play-off.
"Actually, I had a vision that Thongchai would make a putt on the 18th hole and we would go to the play-off," Ozaki said. "Unfortunately it didn't happen."
The roller-coaster match saw Asia take the early lead Friday but fall behind after Saturday's four-ball competition.
Asia entered the final day a point down but appeared poised for a victory after claiming 3- points to 1 over the first five singles matches. Charlie Wi of South Korea, Koumei Oda of Japan and Jeev Milkha Singh of India won their matches respectively against Simon Dyson of England, Alexander Noren of Sweden and Robert Karlsson of Sweden.
But then Spain's Pablo Martin and Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen won their matches, setting the stage for the final match.
Down by three after nine holes, Stenson fought back to even the match with three holes to play. Thomchai, inspired by the cheering crowds, retook the lead on the 17th hole with a clutch birdie putt from eight-feet away.
Knowing he needed to win the match to force a playoff between the two teams, Thomchai pushed hard on the 18th only to come up short. Stenson coolly made a 7-foot par putt after Thomchai missed his 15-foot par putt.
"I was three down after 10 and I had to dig deep and really find something to make it even," Stenson said. "I told the boys I wasn't playing great, but said maybe I could find something if I had to -- and I did."
+Log on to the tournament website for more info and all the results.
http://www.theroyaltrophy.com/site_2010/course.html

Wallace Booth, Lee Harper through to Asian

Tour Final Q, but Barry Hume eliminated

Comrie rookie pro Wallace Booth, a Walker Cup team player last season, and Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), the 1999 Scottish boys' match-play champion from Musselburgh, squeezed through to next week's Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage tournament at Palm Hills G&CC with little or nothing to spare at the Majestic Creek venue, Hua Hin near Bangkok, Thailand today as the Stage 1 Week 2 eliminators at three courses in all came to an end.
Booth, 24, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, whose 16-year-old sister Carly has earned playing rights on the 2010 Ladies European Tour at the first attempt while he failed to make it through the European Tour Qualifying process, finally came good with that stamp of a class player - a three-under-par 68 in the final round when he was under the utmost pressure to perform.
Wallace, who won the Scottish Under-16 boys' stroke play title in 2000 and the Scottish men's open amateur stroke-play title in in 2008, finished on four-under-par 280 with rounds of 69, 73, 70 and 68.
The leading 25 players with totals of 281 or better qualified for next week's decider and Lee Harper got through by the skin of the tee after a final round of one-over-par 72 - his worst of the four - left him sweating it out. Harper's earlier rounds were 68, 71 and 70.
But there was one Scottish "casualty," Glasgow's Barry Hume, who played on the Asian Tour previously for a couple of seasons before losing his card.

Hume, the 2001 Scottish men's amateur match-play champion and the 2002 Scottish men's open amateur stroke-play title winner, peaked with a 66 in the second round in Thailand but then two closing rounds of 74 - six over par for the final 36 holes - gave him an aggregate of 286 - five shots over the limit mark.
What a pity that a player with as much natural talent as Hume once again finds himself without a tour on which to earn a living. Barry is not yet 30 ... but the clock is ticking.
A total of 58 players qualified today for the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage and they will join the previous week's qualifiers and also exempt players in the four-day test, beginning on Wednesday.
Top qualifier at the par-71 Majestic Creek venue was Matthew Rosenfeld of the United States. He fired a final round four-under-par 67 for an 18-under-par 266..
Eltoro Sjoholm of Sweden also posted a 67 to end in second place on a 269 total while Lorenzo Magini of Italy and Gabriel Canizares of Spain took a share of third position on 270.
At Kaeng Krachan Country Club and Resort, Peter Karmis of South Africa led 18 players into the Final Stage. The South African carded a three-under-par 69 for a 17-under-par 271 total. Brad Smith of Australia and Alessio Bruschi of Italy finished seven strokes behind on 278.
England's Zane Scotland, for whom a bright future was predicted at a much earlier stage of his career, finished one shot above the limit mark of 288 at Kaeng Krachan, although he made a brave effort on the final day, shooting a 69 over the only par-72 course used.
Japanese player Senroku Isa registered a final round one-under-par 70 to claim top spot at the Rayong Country Club. His total of 14-under-par 270 was five strokes better than second placed Rohan Blizard of Ausralia who shot a 66 for a 275 total.
American duo Jason Kang and David Johnson finished in third position on 278.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
MAJESTIC CREEK
Par 284 (4x71)
25 players with totals of 281 or better qualified.
266 Matthew Rosenfeld (US) 66 67 66 67.
269 Eltoro Sjoholm (Swe) 70 65 67 67.
270 Lorenzo Magini (Ita) 68 69 67 66, Gabriel Canizares (Spa) 64 66 70 70.
Selected qualifiers:
280 Wallace Booth (Sco) 69 73 70 68 (jt 16th).
281 Lee Harper (Sco) 68 71 70 72 (jt 21st).
FAILED NOT QUALIFY
283 Chris Gill (Eng) 69 73 74 67, Dale Marmion (Eng) 69 71 72 71.
284 Brett Taylor (Eng) 70 71 71 72.
286 Barry Hume (Sco) 72 66 74 74.
288 Haminder Matharu (Eng) 72 70 72 74, James Horn (Eng) 71 69 74 74.
297 Adam Mason (Eng) 72 76 78 71.
RAYONG
Par 284 (4x71)
14 players with totals of 283 or better qualified
270 Senroku Isa (Jap) 66 70 67 70.
275 Rohan Blizard (Aus) 69 70 70 66.
278 Jason Kang (US) 73 69 66 70, David Johnson (US) 70 69 67 72.
Selected qualifiers:
281 Neil Chaudhuri (Eng) 72 72 66 71 (jt 9th).
282 Richard Wallis (Eng) 73 69 70 70 (13th).
FAILED TO QUALIFY
284 James Sheffield (Eng) 70 73 72 69.
287 Kevin Tilbury (Eng) 78 70 70 69, Craig Smith (Wal) 73 69 71 74.
291 Kieran Staunton (Eng) 74 71 77 69.
292 Ian Ridgway (Eng) 73 69 71 79.
293 Ben Stafford (Eng) 69 76 75 73, Larry Batchelor (Eng) 75 75 73 70.
294 Lloyd Campbell (Eng) 73 76 69 76.
295 Mark Wilkinson (Eng) 73 78 69 75, Laurence Warne (Eng) (am) 72 73 77 73.
296 Darren Robson (Eng) 73 77 77 69.
297 Ben Jones (Eng) 80 75 69 73.

KAENG KRACHAN

Par 288 (4x72)

19 players with totals of 288 or better qualified.

271 Peter Karmis (SAf) 69 66 69 69.

278 Brad Smith (Aus) 68 73 72 65, Alessio Bruschi (Ita) 73 70 66 71.

281 Creighton Honeck (US) 75 65 65 76.

Selected qualifiers:

283 Scott Arnold (Aus) 71 72 71 69, Sam Osbourne (Eng) 69 69 68 77.

284 Tim Sluiter (Net) 74 69 71 70.

FAILED TO QUALIFY

289 Zane Scotland (Eng) 70 74 76 69.

305 Mike Bolsover (Eng) 81 74 73 77.

307 Davyd Reeves (Eng) 78 78 73 78, Charles Tetlow (Eng) 75 84 71 77.

330 Benjamin Tetlow (Eng) (am) 85 80 85 80.

Disqualified - Lee Nash (Eng) 76 71 74 dq

+The Asian Tour Final Qualifying School will be contested by a field of no more than 240 players over 72 holes at Palm Hills Golf Club & Residence and Springfield Village Golf & Spa, Petchburi, Thailand, starting on Wednesday, January 13 and ending on Saturday, January 16.

The field will be cut to the leading 100 players and ties after 36 holes. After four rounds, the leading 40 and ties will be ranked Category 14 for the 2010 Asian Tour.

+All the players who entered the Asian Tour Qualifying School had to pay US$1,500.

Lee Harper best placed of three Scots in Thailand eliminator

BOOTH AND HUME WALK TIGHTROPE IN IN FINAL ROUND OF ASIAN Q SCHOOL All three surviving Scots in this week's Asian Tour Qualifying School Stage 1, Week 2 events at Hua Hin, Thailand are on course to qualifying for next week's all-important final stage – if they hold their nerve. Former Scottish boys' champion Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, from Musselburgh is best placed with rounds of 68, 71 and 70 for a share of 10th place on four-under-par 209 at the Majestic Creek Country Club venue. That's 10 shots behind American leader Matthew Rosenfeld but this competition is not about winning, it's about surviving. From here the leading 23 and ties after Saturday's final round will qualify. Comrie's rookie pro Wallace Booth, a Walker Cup player last year, and past Scottish amateur champion Barry Hume from Glasgow are bracketed in 22nd place on 212. Booth has scored 69, 73 and 70, Hume 72, 66 and 74. They will be walking the tightrope in the final round, knowing there is no safety net. The fourth Scot who started out this week, Aberdonian Clarke Lutton, was eliminated by the halfway cut. At Kaeng Krachan Country Club and Resort, Peter Karmis of South Africa held on to the top spot after shooting a three-under-par 69 for a 14-under-par 202 total. Creighton Honeck of the United States is lying second after posting a brilliant 65 for 205. Englishman Sam Osborne is bang in contention in third place on 206. The top 17 and ties make their way to the next stage from Kaeng Krachan. Japanese player Senroku Isa remained in the lead after carding a splendid seven-under-par 64 for a three-day 13-under-par 200 at the Rayong Country Club. Nick Jones of the United States lies in second position on 205 while countryman David Johnson is a further stroke back on 206. The top 14 players and ties at this venue will go forward. Leading third-round scores MAJESTIC CREEK Par 213 (3x71) Top 23 & ties to qualify after four rounds. 199 Matthew Rosenfeld (US) 66 67 66. 200 Gabriel Canizares (Spa) 64 66 70. 202 Eltoro Sjoholm (Swe) 70 65 67. 204 Lorenzo Magini (Ita) 68 69 67. Selected scores: 209 Lee Harper (Sco) 68 71 70 (jt 10th). 212 Wallace Booth (Sco) 69 73 70, Brett Taylor (Eng) 70 71 71, Dale Marmion (Eng) 69 71 72, Barry Hume (Sco) 72 66 74 (jt 22nd). 214 Haminder Matharu (Eng) 72 70 72, James Horn (Eng) 71 69 74 (jt 38th). 216 Chris Gill (Eng) 69 73 74 (jt 52nd). 226 Adam Mason (Eng) 72 76 78 (jt 83rd). RAYONG Par 213 (3x71) Top 14 & ties to qualify after four rounds 200 Senroku Isa (Jap) 66 70 64. 205 Nick Jones (US) 70 68 67. 206 David Johnson (US) 70 69 67. 208 Jason Kang (US) 73 69 66, Michael Moore (Aus) 70 71 67. Selected scores: 209 Rohan Blizard (Aus) 69 70 70 (jt 6th). 210 Neil Chaudhuri (Eng) 72 72 66 (jt 8th). 212 Richard Walls (Eng) 73 69 70 (jt 13th). 213 Ian Ridgway (Eng) 73 69 71, Craig Smith (Wal) 73 69 71 (jt 18th). 215 James Sheffield (Eng) 70 73 72 (23rd). 218 Lloyd Campbell (Eng) 73 76 69 (jt 29th). 220 Ben Stafford (Eng) 69 76 75, Mark Wilkinson (Eng) 73 78 69 (jt 35th). 222 Laurence Warne (Eng) (am) 72 73 77, Kieran Staunton (Eng) 74 71 77 (jt 45th). 223 Larry Batchelor (Eng) 75 75 73 (jt 50th). 224 Ben Jones (Eng) 80 75 69 (jt 52nd). 227 Darren Robson (Eng) 73 77 77 (jt 58th). KANG KRACHAN Par 216 (3x72) Top 17 & ties to qualify after four rounds. 202 Peter Karmis (SAf) 67 66 69. 205 Creighton Honeck (US) 75 65 65. 206 Sam Osbourne (Eng) 69 69 68. 209 Daisuke Kataoka (Jap) 73 70 66. Selected scores: 220 Zane Scotland (Eng) 70 74 76 (jt 27th). 221 Lee Nash (Eng) 76 71 74 (jt 30th). 228 Mike Bolsover (Eng) 81 74 73 (jt 51st). 229 Davyd Reeves (Eng) 78 78 73 (jt 55th). 230 Charles Tetlow (Eng) 75 84 71 (58th). 250 Benhamin Tetlow (Eng) 85 80 85 (76th).