Randhawa stays two ahead in Volvo Masters Of Asia

BY iseekgolf.com | Asian Tour | 2004 Volvo Masters of Asia | Round Two | 10 Dec 2004

India’s Jyoti Randhawa was two-strokes clear of the chasing pack at the US$550,000 Volvo Masters of Asia on Friday despite a late wobble en route to a two-under-par 70 in the second round.

The former Asian number one, who began his campaign with a superb 63 on Thursday, threatened to extend his overnight four-shot advantage by turning in 32 at the lush Kota Permai Golf and Country Club but tripped up on the inward nine with three bogeys and a birdie.

China’s Liang Wen-chong, searching for his first Asian Tour win in what is the season’s finale, and Chinese Taipei veteran Wang Ter-chance narrowed Randhawa’s lead with rounds of 67 and 66 respectively to share second place. Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng was tied fourth after adding a 69 to his opening 68 to trail the leader by four strokes.

“I started well but on the back nine I made some indecisions. There was a lack of concentration and I hit some poor shots,” said Randhawa, who has a two-day total of 11-under-par 133.

“But anytime you’re leading into the weekend is an advantage. I’ll try to play the way that I did yesterday. I just have to go out there and play my own game. There are two more rounds and anything can happen.”

The Indian stalwart, third on the Order of Merit but is still winless this season, started strongly with birdies on the first, third, fourth and seventh holes. But after sending a tee shot into trees on the 11th which led to a bogey, his momentum was halted. He got a birdie back on 12 but hit a poor approach on 15 for bogey and three putted 17 for his third bogey of the day. He later missed a five-foot birdie chance at the last hole.

“I was so in control in the first round, but today I didn’t get it together mentally. It could have easily been a 68 but that’s golf. I made mistakes and I paid for them. Good that I’m under par though,” he said.

China’s Liang continued his push for a breakthrough victory on the Asian Tour with a six birdie round. He holed some lengthy putts of 30 feet for birdies on the third and 10th holes and was beaming after signing his card. However, the 26-year-old from Zhongshan is prepared to take it one step at a time in his search for glory at this year’s Volvo Masters of Asia.

“There’s no rush for me to win,” said Liang. “I’ll try to do the same tomorrow and see where it puts me. I putted nicely today, made some long ones.”

The 42-year-old Wang surged up the leaderboard with a strong inward nine with the day’s best of 66, thanks to a superb driving display where he did not miss a fairway. Like Liang, the veteran, a two-time winner in Asia but not since the 1999 Myanmar Open, rolled in several long putts varying from 30 feet and 20 feet at the fourth, 11th and 14th holes.

However he believes that Randhawa will be the man to beat despite the Indian’s sluggish finish. "He’s a good player and it’ll be interesting to see if the field can challenge him at the weekend. I’m going to try my best but anything in the top-three for me will be satisfying," said Wang, whose best finish this season is tied fifth at the Caltex Masters Presented by Carlsberg in Singapore.

In the Order of Merit race, Simon Yates of Scotland shot a second straight 70 to lie in tied 11th position, seven shots off the pace. Trailing Thongchai Jaidee by about US$53,000, the Thai-based Scotsman must not finish lower than second place on Sunday if he hopes to lift the Merit crown ahead of Thongchai.

Yates struggled with his swing, dropping shots on the ninth by missing the green and then getting an unlucky plugged lie in the greenside bunker on 17. But he feels the merit battle is far from over, especially with Thognchai signing in with a disappointing 72 for equal 20th place on 142.

“I struggled with my rhythm and I’m not swinging it great. Hopefully I’ll go out and shoot something like a 67 tomorrow. Second place is not far from me, so I’m still right in it for the Order of Merit title. If I can get my game going, I can shoot six or seven under par over here.”

A three-putt bogey on 18 left last year’s Volvo Masters of Asia champion Thongchai with a mountain to climb in his title defence. With two rounds to play, he is nine shots behind Randhawa and a cold putter is causing him anxieties.

“I’m not getting it right on the greens. I’ll go work at it this afternoon and tomorrow morning. The rest of my game feels good and I’ll need like an eight under tomorrow to have a chance of winning this title again,” said Thongchai, winner of two titles this year.

Malaysian S. Sivachandran remained as the best amateur in the field after shooting a 74 for equal 25th position. A total of 53 Asian Tour players plus four amateurs are competing in this year’s Volvo Masters of Asia.

Source – Asian Tour