Randhawa fires 63 to lead Volvo Masters of Asia
BY iseekgolf.com | Asian Tour | 2004 Volvo Masters of Asia | Round One | 09 Dec 2004
India’s Jyoti Randhawa shot his career best round with a nine-under-par 63 for a four-stroke first round lead in the US$550,000 Volvo Masters of Asia today.
Randhawa, the Asian number one in 2002, was in imperious form at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club and left the elite field in his wake with his nine-birdie round in what is the Asian Tour’s season finale.
Compatriot Jeev Milkha Singh carded a 67 for second place while China’s Liang Wen-chong, Korea’s Lee Sung-man, Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, England’s Simon Dyson and South African Craig Kamps got in the mix with matching 68s.
Malaysian amateur S. Sivachandran provided the cheers for the local fans with an accomplished 69 for equal eighth place. In the Asian Tour Order of Merit race, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, the current money leader, and Scotsman Simon Yates were neck and neck with identical 70s. Yates cannot finish lower than second place if he is to win the merit title.
The day belonged to Randhawa, who is searching for his first victory of the year. “I played great. I didn’t miss any green and putted nicely. My mental focus was good. I didn’t hit a bad shot today, it was almost perfect golf. I would say this is the best round of my career. I just wanted to be nine-under, that was on my mind and I was happy to roll in that 10-footer at the last,” said the Indian star, who raised his hands in jubilation after his last putt disappeared into the cup.
Randhawa’s effort matched the course record held by Yates but it will not be considered official as the ’preferred lie’ ruling was in play. He birdied the third, fifth, seventh and eighth holes to turn in 32 and then had three straight birdies from the 10th and two more on 15 and 18. “I’ll just keep this round in my mind and try to repeat this tomorrow and the day after. I’ve never had a round like this. I’ve shot eight under par in the past but would miss a small putt at the end for nine-under. Today was just flawless. Maybe I’ll go and shoot 10 under tomorrow,” said Randhawa, third in last year’s Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok.
Singh was on song on the back nine, romping home in 32. Seeing his name up on the leaderboard was a joy for the Indian, who has won four times in Asia but not since 1999. “It’s good to be up there, to get the adrenaline flowing again and feel the heart pumping,” said Singh. “The last two years have been a struggle but I did alright in Japan to keep my card this season. I’ve been in contention only once this year so it is a goal to be in the frame again this week,” said Singh.
The slightly built Prayad was delighted to be back at the same venue which saw him shoot a Tour record of eight birdies in a row at the former Volvo Masters of Malaysia in 2001. Using a cross-handed putting grip this week, he rolled in five birdies, including a monster 45-footer on the second hole.
“I like this course and remember well the round where I shot eight straight birdies. I’ve switched my putting grip and it felt comfortable. Jyoti has got off to a great start and we’ll need to chase him,” said Prayad.
England’s Simon Dyson, who won three titles en route to a great rookie season in 2000 in Asia, got off to a flyer with five opening birdies but cooled off on the inward nine with two bogeys. The Yorkshireman is looking to win the Volvo Masters of Asia for his brother, Nick, who was meant to be on caddying duties. The elder Dyson dislocated his shoulder in a mishap on Tuesday after falling off from the buggy and has flown home.
“Nick fell off the buggy and went straight into another buggy. We’re cursed out here in Asia,” said Dyson, who has also suffered freak injuries in the past including breaking his elbow while playing tennis.
Thongchai, bidding for his second merit title in four years, was hoping to strike it as hot as his blazing red tee shirt that he wore this morning but despite hitting 17 greens in regulation, the Thai’s putter yielded only four birdies. "I played nicely but just couldn’t make any putts. I took 30 putts on the greens today and that’s too many. I’m going to work on it now and hopefully, it’ll be better. There are three more rounds to go," said Thongchai.
The cheers came from Sivachandran’s group. The Malaysia amateur number one showed some poise to get to four under for his round before dropping a shot on 17. His playing partner Gaurav Ghei of India was impressed with the 25-year-old. “He taught me a few things out there. He played really nicely,” said Ghei, who returned a 73.
The Malaysian, playing on a sponsor’s invite, said he began having sweaty palms when he moved to four under through the 14th hole. "When I teed off I wasn’t nervous but started feeling it late in the round. I drove the ball well and missed only one fairway which was good as we were playing preferred lies. It is a good opportunity to test my game against some of Asia’s best players," said Sivachandran, who was named the Malaysian amateur golfer of the year last week after a season which included six domestic wins.
Source – Asian Tour
