Lee and Thaworn take clubhouse lead in Carlsberg Malaysian Open
BY iseekgolf.com | Asian Tour | 2004 Malaysian Open | Round Two | 20 Feb 2004
Korea’s Lee Sung-man and Thaworn Wiratchant from Thailand took the clubhouse lead today in the US$1.21 million Carlsberg Malaysian Open at Saujana Golf and Country Club.
Lee, who was born deaf, fired a four-under-par 68 and Thaworn shot a 67 to lead the event on seven-under-par 137. Lightning and heavy rain stopped play for the day at 3.50 pm with 75 players unable to complete their second round.
Ireland’s Paul McGinley and American Greg Hanrahan came in with rounds of 70 to lie a stroke off the pace. Ireland’s Padraig Harrington was also able to finish his round and came in with a 74 to lie at one under for the tournament.
Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie birdied the 12th and eagled the 13th before the weather bought his round to an end. He is three strokes behind the leaders.
“I practised at Saujana for a week last month and I like this course as it is very American-styled. My overall game was good and I’m not surprised to be in the lead as I’ve been playing well,” said Lee.
The 24-year-old won the Qualifying School in Asia this year and played on the Nationwide Tour from 2000 to 2003. The winner of 16 amateur events in Korea he communicates by lip reading through the help of his father, Lee Kang-kun, who travels with him.
He fired five birdies and dropped one shot over Saujana’s famous Cobra course.
“Being deaf helps with my concentration on the course,” added Lee, who was encouraged to play in Asia by compatriot Choi Kyung-ju after he lost his Nationwide Tour card last season.
Thaworn registered a roller coaster round that featured only five pars. He shot nine birdies and four bogies.
“It’s a very tough course, always going up and down, so I am very happy with that score. Luckily, I am playing well and when you play well you don’t feel tired,” said Thaworn.
He has won three times on Tour but has not tasted victory since 2001. With two second place finishes last year, in the Korean and China Opens, he is hungry for success this season.
“I drove the ball well again with my Sword driver, which is why I scored well. I hit one bad drive but still managed to birdie the hole. It was on the tough sixth. I pushed my drive right into the trees but punched a four iron out and the ball rolled up to about seven feet,” added the Thai golfer.
McGinley, the man best remembered for holing the winning putt for Europe in The 34th Ryder Cup Matches in 2002, is also chasing his first Tour win since 2001.
“I have been working on the right things and addressing the weak points in my game. Working on my wedges, putting, chipping and my techniques. It’s a combination of all these,” said McGinley.
Montgomerie played the front nine in three under, dropped a shot on the 11th, before his storming finish to the day.
“I saw a black cat this morning on my way to the course and then got hit by a bird walking from the ninth green to the tenth tee and got a lot bird poo on my top and it finished down my trousers. Some of the guys said that was lucky. I didn’t see it lucky right then but you never know. It could be an omen,” said Montgomerie.
Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng, Frenchman Thomas Levet and Australian Terry Price all finished their second rounds and are five under for the tournament.
Players will return to the course at 8 am on Saturday morning to complete their second round with round three commencing at 11.45 am.
Source – Asian PGA Tour
