
Rawang: Airil Rizman Zahari continued from where he left off as he took a share of the opening round lead at the RM125,000 Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Northport Templer Park Classic on Monday.
Having posted his second Tour victory of the year at the PNB Commercial Lanjut Classic before the Ramadan recess, Airil carded a flawless round of four-under 68 at the tough Templer Park Country Club to match the earlier effort of another former Asian Tour winner, Danny Chia.
Sabahan Nicholas Fung, who is aiming to break a run of second places, was a further shot back on 69, three strokes ahead of the duo of Mohd Azman Basharuddin and Dinata Abdillah. Solhairy Shariff and burky Mohd Rizal Amin were a further shot off the pace on one-over 73 ahead of the bunch of V. Arumugam, Wilson Choo, Iylia Jamil and Sukree Othman (74).
Shaaban Hussin, who amongst a bunch of ten on three-over 75, had much to reflect upon after being disqualified for failing to include a penalty stroke incurred after he did not play the ball as it lied after striking a lamp post.
After Chia had traded six birdies against two bogeys to set the benchmark on four-under-par, Airil fired two birdies on each nine to get his campaign off to a solid start. “I was quite surprised with my score today, considering that I did take an extended break during the fasting month and Aidilfitri and only played one tournament before this tournament,” said the 34-year-old.
“I had a good start with a confident birdie on the second and despite struggling with the difficult par-fives, I am happy with the day’s result.”
Chia, who has yet to taste victory in 2012, was happy to be up in front.”My scores could have been better but I missed some makeable birdie putts. Otherwise I am driving the ball really well and my iron play was equally good,” added the two-time PGM Tour winner.
Having never played at the three-time Malaysian Open venue, Fung was delighted with his opening effort. “I didn’t have chance to play a practice round here, so it was quite a guessing game. So, I’m satisfied with my score today,” said the 23-year-old, who has three runner-up finishes on the burgeoning domestic tour in 2012.
Leading first round scores
68 Airil Rizman Zahari; Danny Chia
69 Nicholas Fung
72 Mohd Azman Basharuddin; Dinata Abdillah
73 Solhairy Sharif; Mohd Rizal Amin
74 V. Arumugam; Mohd Iylia Jamil; Wilson Choo; Sukree Othman
75 Md Rashid Ismail; Anis Helmi Hassan; Azhar Majid; Abdul Rahman Abdul Hamid; Mohd Hafiy Suhaili; Marcus Low; Douglas Tobuse; P. Gunasagaran; Sulaiman Ibrahim