Kota Kinabalu: Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung and S. Sivachandhran narrowed the gap at the top as Filipino Jay Bayron held on to a two-stroke advantage at the halfway point of the Sabah Masters.
Sabah’s rising young star Fung and Sivachandran both carded 68s while the 32-year-old Bayron fired a one-over-par 71 over Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club’s demanding championship course to lead the US$60,000 tournament on four-under-par 136.
Also two strokes off the pace is Anthony Fernando, who returned with a 70 including a costly double bogey on the 18th. Wisut Artjanawat, the exciting young prospect from Thailand who last month lifted the Palembang Musi Championship, fired a 68 to move into sole fifth on level-par 140.
The halfway cut came at 16-over 156 with 55 players advancing to the weekend rounds.
Bayron heads into the weekend in a familiar position in contention, having recorded third, fifth and sixth placed finishes on the ASEAN PGA Tour this year. “We started on the back nine today which I liked because that’s the hard nine. It’s best to play that first when you have most of your energy,” said the Davao native, who made three birdies and four bogeys.
“As long as I keep putting myself into position to win I am happy. That’s all I can ask for. The win will come if I keep performing at this level,” added Bayron.
The Filipino first appeared on the ASEAN PGA Tour in 2007 when he finished as the leading amateur in the Mercedes-Benz Masters Vietnam. He turned professional the following year and has been one of the most consistent performers on the ASEAN PGA Tour.
Fung won the Sabah Classic on the local Malaysian circuit this year and will no doubt be a threat at the weekend. He played his second nine in two under to move onto the shoulder of the leader.
“That was a much better round today and I am right in the thick of things where I want to be. It will be a great battle at the weekend because if you look at the leaderboard there are a lot of top players in contention,” said Fung, who grew up playing golf at Sabah Golf & Country Club. He has won once before on the ASEAN PGA Tour in last year’ Mercedes-Benz Masters Vietnam.
Sivachandhran on the other hand is looking to return to winning after last hoisting a local title in June. “I like the way I was striking the ball today and I had a couple of good putts. The course is demanding and playing a tad long for my liking, the back nine especially holes 11,13 and 18 are really challenging.
“It’s a matter of working on today’s good round, sticking to my game plan. It would be good if I can bring back a win,” added Siva, who is yet to taste victory on the regional tour.
The Sabah Masters is the sixth event on this year’s ASEAN PGA Tour. The tournament has not been played since 1999 when American Robert Huxtable took the title when it was also played at Sutera Harbour.
Leading second round scores
136 Jay Bayron (PHI) 71-65
138 Nicholas Fung 70-68, S. Sivachandhran 70-68, Anthony Fernando (PHI) 68-70
140 Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 72-68
141 Airil Rizman 70-71, Tanatchan Puaktes (THA) 68-73
142 Marlon Dizon (PHI) 69-73, Rory Hie (INA) 71-71
144 Apichart Papitak (THA) 70-74
