Hong Kong: Malaysia roared back into contention in the 51st South East Asian Amateur Golf  Team Championship at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club with Kenneth De Silva and Mohd Azman Basharuddin leading the way with scores of 67 and 69 respectively in today’s second round.

Kenneth in particular was in hot form today, nailing a hole-in-one on the par-three sixth before going on to mix four birdies and three bogeys to notch a score of three-under 67 to help Malaysia to improve to 427 – three strokes behind leaders Hong Kong (424) and second placed Indonesia (425).

Mohd Hisyam Abdul Majid remained the best placed Malaysian, a round of 72 today for a 142 total, six behind the host nation’s Hak Shun Yat, who drained six birdies against a single bogey to lead the Putra Cup individual standings.

In the Santi Cup challenge, Vivienne Chin remained the best placed Malaysian, carding an one-over par 71 to lie third in the individual standings, three shots behind leader Pinrath Loomboonruang of Thailand. Malaysia however remained out of contention, 26 strokes behind leaders Philippines, who still hold a two-shot advantage over defending champions Thailand.

Paul San and Low Khai Jei remains best performers in the Lion City Cup contest, carding rounds of 70 and 71 today to improve to third and fourth respectively.  Thailand’s Chanchok Dejpiratanammongkol continues to set the mark with a halfway total of 142 to steer his team to a ten stroke advantage over Malaysia and Indonesia, who are tied second on 439.

For the record, Malaysia last won the Putra Cup in 2001 and have yet to lift the Santi and Lion City Cups.

Leading second round scores (Malaysians unless stated)

PUTRA CUP

Individual
136 Hak Shun Yat (HKG) 71-65
138 Maung Maung Oo (MYA) 71-67
140 George Gandranata (INA) 69-71
142 Mohd Hisyam Abdul Majid 70-72, Natipong Srithong (THA) 73-69
143 Rinaldi Adiyandono (INA) 70-73, Zanie Boy Bicera Gialon (PHI) 72-71, Choo Tze Huang (SIN) 72-71, Suprapto (INA) 72-71
144 Shinichi Mizuno (HKG) 73-71, Mohd Azman Basharuddin 75-69, Terrence Ng (HKG) 73-71

Selected scores
146 Kenneth De Silva (79-67)
147 Abel Tam (74-73)

Team
424 Hong Kong (217-207)
425 Indonesia (210-215)
427 Malaysia (219-208)
429 Singapore (215-214)
434 Myanmar (219-215)
437 Thailand (220-217)
443 Philippines (221-222)

SANTI CUP
Individual
136 Pinrath Loomboonruang (THA) 67-69
137 Dottie Ardina (PHI) 68-69, Chihiro Ikeda (PHI) 70-67, Tiffany Chan (HKG) 70-67
139 Vivienne Chin 68-71
141 Panitta Yusabai (THA) 73-68
142 Wad Phaewchimplee (THA) 71-71, Andrea Unison (PHI) 69-73
144 Pavarisa Yoktuan (THA) 72-72, Kitty Tam (HKG) 74-70

Selected scores
151 Nur Durriyah Damian 75-76
154 Hilferah Tan 80-74, Isza Fariza Ismail 78-76

Team
416 Philippines (207-209)
418 Thailand (210-208)
430 Hong Kong (217-213)
442 Malaysia (221-221)
445 Singapore (224-221)
457 Indonesia (226-231)

LION CITY CUP
Individual
140 Chanchok Dejpiratanammongkol (THA) 69-71
143 Pariwat Pinsawat (THA) 72-71
144 Low Khai Jei 73-71,
145 Paul San 75-70, Joshua Ho (SIN) 76-69, Nicklaus Chiam (SIN) 75-70, Jordan Irawan (INA) 73-72
147 Adrian Halimi (INA) 71-76, Angelo Jose Gandionco (PHI) 73-74
149 Rupert Zaragosa (PHI) 74-75

Selected scores
150 Jeremiah Kim (78-72)
156 Mohd Afif Muhd Razif (78-78)

Team
429 Thailand (215-214)
439 Malaysia (226-213), Indonesia (220-219)
442 Singapore (227-215)
445 Philippines (218-227)
462 Hong Kong (237-225)