AMERICAN BOWEN SHARES LEAD IN MALAYSIA
Kedah,
Malaysia: James Bowen of the United States continued his
good form when he posted a seven-under-par 65 to take a share of the
second-round lead with Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert at the PGM Sime
Darby Harvard Masters today.
The
American posted a two-day total of 13-under-par 131 and is determined
to play his way back into the main Tour after missing the cut at the
Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage last month.
Pavit
returned with the day’s lowest score of 63 to move atop the leaderboard
after starting the day in tied-fifth while Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh
Chi-hsien, a one-time Asian Development Tour (ADT) winner is three shots
back in third place on 134.
Malaysia’s
S. Siva Chandhran, who won the ADT Order of Merit in 2010, traded seven
birdies against one bogey to take equal fourth with Canada’s Lindsay
Renolds and Thailand’s Jakraphan Premsirigorn on 135 at the RM200,000
(approximately US$65,000) ADT event which is held at the Harvard Golf
and Country Club this week.
After
missing out on the opportunity to earn his Asian Tour card at
Qualifying School, Bowen believes the best way to prove himself again
would be to excel on the ADT.
“Coming
from the States, I heard a lot of good things about the Asian Tour and
that’s why I decided to brave the long journey to come out here and
compete,” said Bowen.
“I
shot rounds of 71 and 76 and missed the cut in Q School. I’m trying to
regain my confidence and play my way back into the Asian Tour again.
Hopefully my performance over two rounds this week would allow me to do
that,” said the American who hit 17 greens in regulation his opening
round where he signed for a 66.
Siva is also on a mission of reclaiming his place among the best players on the region’s premier Tour again.
Despite being crowned as the ADT’s best player in 2010, Siva could not carry his best form over to the main Tour.
After winning his second ADT title in Malacca in 2011, he only had one top-10 to show for on the Asian Tour that year.
Siva made two cuts in eight attempts on the Asian Tour in 2012 and lost his card after finishing in 103rd place on the Order of Merit.
“It
was a huge setback to have lost my card. I had limited playing
opportunities and it was not a nice feeling,” said the Malaysian who was
once ranked as the country’s best amateur.
“But
today’s performance brought back the confidence and belief that I’m
still able to play my best golf. I need such performances to lift my
spirits and be in the position to be ranked as one of the best in the
game again,” added Siva whose otherwise flawless card was marred by a
lone bogey on the par-five three.
Leading second round scores
131 James BOWEN (USA) 66 65, Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 68 63
134 HSIEH Chi-hsien (TPE) 68 66
135 Lindsay RENOLDS (CAN) 65 70, S. Siva Chandhran (MAS) 69-66, Jakraphan PREMSIRIGORN (THA) 71 64
136 Spencer SHISHIDO (USA) 67-69
137 Anthony CHOAT (AUS) 68 69, Akhmal TARMIZEE (MAS) 68 69,
Zurie HARUN (MAS) 70 67, Zanie Boy GIALON (PHI) 71 66
138 Clement RAMEAUX (FRA) 70 68, Shaifubari MUDA (MAS) 65 73, Wasin
SRIPATTRANUSORN (THA) 70 68, Ratchapol JANTAVARA (THA) 69 69,
Hafiy SUHAILI (MAS) 69 69, James LAM (PHI) 69 69
Labels: ASIAN TOUR
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