Blyth in the hunt at Selangor Masters
IN: News | Asian | Worldwide Selangor Masters (2008) | Round One | 06 Aug 2008
Thai teen phenom Chinnarat Phadungsil established a new course record of seven-under-par 64 to lead the first round of the Worldwide Selangor Masters on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old, already a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, wielded a new putter like a magic wand as he took only 25 putts to open up a two-shot lead from Australian Adam Blyth at Seri Selangor Golf Club.
Blyth, who played in his first major at the British Open last month, is a man in form after winning a pro-am tournament in Australia by a whopping 15 shots at the weekend following an impressive 28-under-par total.
Two eagles kept him in touch with Chinnarat although Blyth lamented a bogey on his 16th hole of the day at the seventh which was his first dropped shot in 80 holes from two events. “It was a good start. I felt pretty average after just flying in only yesterday. But I guess from playing well last week, it just kept flowing,” said Blyth.
The tall Aussie hit the worst of tee shots from the 10th in the afternoon which skirted the water hazard but saved par. He eagled the 13th after converting an 18-foot putt and rolled in a six footer at the fifth for his second eagle of the round.
“There are opportunities out there as long as you hit it straight. My confidence is at a different level. I’m just staying with the process and hitting every shot the best that I can,” said Blyth, who is playing in his fourth season in Asia and bidding for a first title.
Japan’s Taichiro Kiyota, Fijian Dinesh Chand, who shot two eagles, and Singaporean veteran M. Murugiah are three off the lead while a flu-stricken Danny Chia and Iain Steel carried the local challenge with matching 68s in the RM1 million (US$310,000) event which is making its debut on the Asian Tour.
The power-packed Chinnarat was flawless on the putting surface as he drained putt after putt for his blistering start, which bettered the previous course mark by one shot.
“I had some luck with me as I didn’t hit it too well but made putts from everywhere. I was holing out 10 footers for birdies. My putting hasn’t been great this year and I changed to a new putter this week after getting it fitted at the Scotty Cameron studio in California last month,” said the former world junior amateur champion.
Chinnarat, who has two top-10s this season, surprised even himself with his scorching start as he felt the par-71 Seri Selangor course, Malaysia’s first public golf club, was demanding with its narrow layout, firm fairways and tricky greens. He sank eight birdies against a lone bogey.
“When I first saw the course, I thought that one under would be a good round. If you miss it left or right, you can easily run up a big number. If I shoot one or two under tomorrow, I’ll take it,” he said.
The slightly-built Kiyota, ninth on the Order of Merit, put himself in position with three birdies and one eagle against a lone bogey. He pencilled down a three at the 518-yard par five fifth, needing only a wedge for his second shot which set him up for a four foot eagle putt.
“I putted nicely but it’s such a difficult golf course. The fairway on 10th is the narrowest I’ve seen and you just have to concentrate really well and take it one shot at a time,” said Kiyota, who was second in the Johnnie Walker Classic in India.
The surprise of the day was delivered by 44-year-old Murugiah, who spends most of his time now as a teaching professional in Singapore and helming the local PGA as its new president. Playing on a sponsor’s invite, the veteran snared seven birdies against three dropped shots on a course which he has never broken 75 in six previous rounds.
“I’m very happy. I hit all the fairways and putted reasonably well. My aim here is to make the cut. I haven’t played for a long time as I’ve cut back on my playing schedule quite a lot. I still like to play the occasional event and seeing old friends. But I’m getting old, 44 this year, and injuries do come into play,” said Murugiah.
India’s Digvijay Singh produced some excitement when he sank a hole-in-one on the par three eighth en route to a 75. Thai star Thongchai Jaidee, a two-time Asian Tour number, opened his campaign with a 70 which included a double bogey while Malaysia’s Ben Leong, chasing a third straight win after two previous successes on home soil, signed for an even par 71.
