Kuala Lumpur: Nicholas Fung Chee Yung made a highly impressive start to his bid to top the Professional Golf of Malaysia’s (PGM) Order of Merit with a flawless opening round of six-under 66 at the season-ending PGM Kinrara Masters.
The 21-year-old, who claimed a sensational Borneo double on the Tour earlier this year was in imperious form, carding three birdies apiece on each nine at Kinrara Golf Club to take an early two stroke lead over PGM Terengganu winner Shaaban Hussin. Shaaban carded six birdies himself but found himself undone by bogeys on the third and 10th.
The trio of Mohd Nazri Mohd Zain, Zamri Shariff and Shanizul Ahmad were a further stroke behind with Khor Kheng Hwai and CM Chong on 70. Seven others including Sukree Othman, Danny Chia and R. Nachimuthu were a further stroke off the pace.
Feeling the heat was current OOM leader Md Rashid Ismail, who was left eight strokes off the lead after a struggling 74 alongside newly-minted professional Jeremiah Kim, who was making his first start as a professional after a stellar junior amateur career.
But all attention was on Fung, who has now set his sight on ending another groundbreaking year on a high after confirming his OneAsia card for next year with a series of impressive displays on the regional ASEAN PGA Tour. Despite the early advantage, the Kota Kinabalu-native is not allowing himself to be carried away just yet about claiming his third title on the burgeoning Tour.
“It’s still quite early to talk about winning. I have to play as well as I did today if I’m going to remain top [on Thursday],” shared Fung. “The course is pretty soggy and it’s vital to stay inside the fairways if you want to shoot a good score,” he added, shrugging aside any suggestion that he has his thoughts firmly set on finishing as the maiden PGM numero uno.
Leading first round scores
66 – Nicholas Fung
68 – Shaaban Hussin
69 – Mohd Nazri Mohd Zain, Zamri Shariff, Shanizul Ahmad
70 – Khor Kheng Hwai, CM Chong
71 – Sukree Othman, Mohd Rizal Amin, Akhmal Tarmizee, Danny Chia, Hanafiah Jamil, R. Nachimuthu, Chan Soo Keong
