Thongchai Jaidee leads delayed Carlsberg Malaysian Open
BY iseekgolf.com | Asian Tour | 2004 Malaysian Open | Round Three | 21 Feb 2004
Thailand’s top golfers dominated the third round of the US$1.21 million Carlsberg Malaysian Open before heavy rain stopped play for the second successive day.
No players were able to complete the third round at Saujana Golf and Country Club as the day came to an end at 4.10pm but the Thais were able to enjoy the moment as Thongchai Jaidee, Chawalit Plaphol, Prayad Marksaeng and Thaworn Wiratchant all led the way.
Thongchai was in top spot on nine under for the tournament after 13, while his compatriots were a stroke behind along with Korean Lee Sung-man and veteran American Greg Hanrahan – who also helped make it a special for The Kingdom as he lives in Hua Hin, Thailand.
Ireland’s Paul McGinley had played seven holes and was seven under for the tournament while Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie was five under after eight.
In-form Thongchai won the Myanmar Open last Sunday and made his move today by playing the front nine in four-under-par 32. He birdied 11, 12 and 13 although faces a 10-foot putt for par on the 14th as his first shot on Sunday.
“It’s really nice to see so many Thais on the leaderboard. It shows that we are coming up and everybody is very strong now,” said Thongchai, who has won five times on Tour and was ranked Asia’s number one in 2001.
“I’ve been working with my coach Sanit Hensakun and he pointed out a flaw when I came back from the US PGA Tour Qualifying School last December. He noticed my body was moving too much on the backswing and I’ve worked on that,” added the Thai star, who won the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia last December on home soil.
Hanrahan, who has played in Asia since 1995 and has a Thai wife, was delighted with his performance and that of the Thai players.
“We are all stoked, we are all part of the same team,” said Hanrahan, whose best result in Asia is second in the 1995 Royal Perak Classic.
The American is on the eighth hole and has a 14-footer for par.
“I am still hitting bad shots but my game has finally come around. I feel good about golf again, I am really excited about playing especially in a big tournament like this,” added the 45 year old.
Chawalit is enjoying a return to form after having struggled for several seasons.
“I started hitting the ball well again at the end of last year and I still have the right feeling. I had a feeling that this season would be better and this week is showing that. I just need to get it right tomorrow. It’s a special day for Thai golf,” said Chawalit.
McGinley, looking for his first win on The European Tour since 2001, made two birdies and dropped one shot in his opening holes.
“There is a lot of golf tomorrow. It’s a test of stamina, no question about it,” said the Irishman.
“It will be interesting to see how things work out for Jaidee as he is so far ahead of the leaders. He is five, six, seven holes ahead of the last group. Have to wait and see,” added McGinley.
The third round will commence again at 8am on Sunday.
The second round was completed this morning with Finland’s Mikko Ilonen taking the lead. The former British Amateur champion birdied two out of his last four holes to sign for a four-under-par 68 for a two-round total of eight-under-par 136.
He finished one stroke ahead of Korean Lee and Thaworn, who both completed their rounds on Friday.
The halfway cut was made at one over par. The third round teed-off at 12.15 pm, with the final group starting at 2.05 pm.
Source – Asian PGA Tour
