Petaling Jaya (ASIAN TOUR): Highly rated amateur Gavin Green took full advantage of his big-hitting game by firing an opening round of three-under-par 68 to lie two shots off the lead at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters on Thursday.
The 19-year-old shot four birdies and dropped one shot at the Seri Selangor Golf Club to emerge as the best placed Malaysian in tied third place. He trails leader Pariya Junhasavasdikul of Thailand, who posted a solid 66 to take a one-shot lead over Korea’s Baek Seuk-hyun (65).
Paired with two of the Asian Tour’s longest hitters, Green held his ground against Scott Hend of Australia and Anton Haig of South Africa, who carded a 70 and 77 respectively at the RM1.2 million (approximately US$400,000) Asian Tour event.
“It was fun to be playing with Scott Hend and Anton Haig because we were hitting it really far,” said Green, who is shooting for a solid finish here to qualify for the prestigious U.S. Amateur Championship in August.
“We were having like a driving contest especially on the par-fives where we hit it as hard as we could. One of the par fives, Scott and Anton got past me but on the other par five, I hit it past them. I guess it was pretty even,” he added.
The former Malaysian Amateur Open winner could have gone lower in his round but had numerous putts burning the edges of the cup.
“I hit a lot of good putts but none of them dropped. I was rolling it good but a couple of important putts went in and that’s good enough. I don’t think I have to do anything special. It doesn’t matter if it is long or short birdies, I just have to keep giving myself chances. My only bogey today was a three-putt. I hit 16 greens which is good. If I can keep that up and make more putts then my score will be better,” he smiled.
Nicholas Fung, who earned his Asian Tour card in Qualifying in Thailand earlier this year, was disappointed to drop two shots in his last three holes after making birdies on holes nine, 12 and 13 for a 70.
“You can’t really miss shots here. I’m going to hit some balls at the range, hit a few irons so that I can get it better. My putting is good. I switched back to the short putter this week after using the belly putter last week. Need my irons to be closer to the pins,” said the bespectacled Sabahan.
Rashid Ismail and M. Sasidaran finished a further shot back while Shaaban Hussin and Danny Chia registered a 74 and 73 respectively. The 13-year-old Galven Green, who is playing in his first Asian Tour event, returned with an 81.
Leading first round scores (Malaysians unless indicated)
66 – Pariya Junhasavasdikul (THA)
67 – Baek Seuk-hyun (KOR)
68 – Lin Wen-tang (TPE), Wade Ormsby (AUS), Gavin Kyle Green (A), Adam Groom (AUS)
69 – Peter Richardson (ENG), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Elias Bertheussen (NOR).
70 – Hung Chien-yao (TPE), Sam Cyr (USA), Lu Wen-teh (TPE), Nicholas Fung, Scott HEND (AUS), Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA), SIDDIKUR (BAN), Peter GUSTAFSSON (SWE), Thomas PETERSSON (SWE).
71 – Richard T. Lee (CAN), Rashid Ismail, Sam Brazel (AUS), Koh Deng Shan (SIN), M. Sasidaran (MAS), Abhinav Lohan (IND), Mars Pucay (PHI), Konosuke Nakazato (JPN)
