Shah Alam: Danny Chia took a step closer to claiming his fourth Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) title after pulling four shots clear of the chasing pack at the halfway point of the PGM Northport Glenmarie Masters on Thursday.
The local ace posted six birdies against two bogeys for a round of four-under-par 68 while James Bowen of the United States trails in second place following a 71 at RM200,000 (approximately US$65,000) Asian Development Tour (ADT) event.
Mohamad Azman Basharudin (70) of Malaysia, Englishman Grant Jackson (71), Chang Tse-peng (71) of Chinese Taipei and Thailand’s Jakraphan Premsirigorn (68) shared third, six shots back from Chia at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.
Defending champion Nicholas Fung bounced back with a round of three-under 69 to lie seven strokes off the lead in tied seventh alongside South Korean Park Il-hwan (71) and Thai youngster Pavit Tangkamolprasert (72).
Despite struggling with a stiff neck, Chia overcame the odds and put himself in the driver’s seat with a nine-under 135 total as he chases a second win this season.
“With my neck condition you don’t know what’s going to happen. It is getting better after my chiropractor helped me loosen it so it just bothers me a little bit when I’m playing,” said the 40-year-old Chia.
Playing from the 10th tee, Chia was hot off the blocks with two opening birdies before making the turn in 35. He holed a massive 20-footer birdie putt on one and added two more birdies on two and four to stay in the lead.
“My short game was really good. You are bound to miss the greens here because it is very undulating so you really need a good short game to save you,” said Chia.
The in-form Bowen maintained his quest for a unique Malaysian double after winning the PGM Sime Darby Harvard Masters in Sungai Petani a fortnight ago. His shot of the day came on the par-three eighth when he rifled his seven-iron to within 12 feet and holed it for a birdie.
“I had two slipped ups but came back strongly with a couple of birdies. It was good to finish my round with that birdie on eight. That was really good for confidence and a great way to finish,” said the current ADT Order of Merit leader.
The halfway cut was set at five-over-par 149 with 66 players qualifying for the last two days.
Leading second round scores
135 – Danny Chia 67-68
139 – James Bowen (USA) 68-71
141 – Mohamad Azman Basharuddin 71-70, Grant Jackson (ENG) 70-71, Chang Tse-Peng (TPE) 70-71, Jakraphan Premsirigorn (THA) 73-68
142 – Park Il-hwan (KOR) 71-71, Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) 70-72, Nicholas Fung 73-69
143 – S. Murthy 70-73, Michael Bibat (PHI) 70-73, Iain Steel 69-74
144 – Pasamet Pogamnerd (THA) 74-70, George Gandranata (INA) 71-73, S. Sivachandhran 73-71, Shaun MALONE (ENG) 75-69
