Kuching: Nicholas Fung Chee Yung was eyeing his second straight title on the Professional Golf of Malaysia after snatching a two-shot halfway lead at the RM250,000 PGM Sarawak Classic.
The 21-year-old Sabahan grabbed six birdies against a sole bogey at Kelab Golf Sarawak for a score of five-under-par 67 to storm up the leaderboard with a two-day total of eight-under 136.
R. Nachimuthu shot a two-under 70 to stay second on 128 while while Md Rashid Ismail mixed four birdies with a single bogey to jump to third place with a five-under 139. Overnight leader S. Murthy could not maintain his momentum as he signed off with a six-over 78 to lie one-over overall in joint eighth.
Fung, who picked up the PGM Sabah Classic title at his homeground of Sabah Golf & Country Club in late July, was delighted with his round, despite not being at his best. “I was very lucky to finish on five under because I was terrible off the tees today and missed so many fairways. Fortunately my recovery game was fantastic, not only saving par but getting birdies as well, ” he said.
“I even managed to make one birdie from about 20 feet. I will play my same game tomorrow but I must improve on my long game,” said Fung.
Nachimuthu shared that a change to his putting routine helped him maintain his ground today. “I am placing the putter face a bit upright and it has helped me tremendously. Overall I am happy with my game and hope to maintain my pace,” said the PGM Penang Classic winner.
Like Fung, third placed Md Rashid was also having trouble with his long game but managed to escape scot-free with a combination of good iron play and precise putting. “My game is a bit rusty because lack of practice during Ramadan, “said Rashid who started with a birdie and followed it with a few more at the fifth, ninth, 14th and 17th.
His sole blemish of the day came at the par-4 fourth. “My tee-shot at the fourth went into the water but it was a huge compensation for me when my chip into the sloping green found the hole on the par-four sixth,” he added.
M. Sasidaran is fourth place on four-under par followed by Akhmal Tarmizee with a one-under par 143.
Fifty-two professionals and four amateurs made the cut which came at 13-over 157. The four amateurs who made the cut include Miri brothers Malcolm Tay and his younger sibling Jordan. Malcolm shot a two-day total of 2-over 146 while Jordan totalled 9-over 153.
Leading second round scores
136 Nicholas Fung (69-67)
138 R. Nachimuthu (68-70)
139 Md Rashid Ismail (70-69)
140 M. Sasidaran (69-71)
143 Akhmal Tarmizee (70-73)
144 Mohd Amli (70-73), Hanafiah Jamil (72-72)
145 S. Murthy (67-78), Kemarol Baharin (73-72), Shaifubari Muda (75-70), Khor Kheng Hwai (75-70)
