First-timers prove Asia’s talismans

Gavin Kyle Green celebrates with a Team Asia staffer after winning his foursome match © Arep Kulal|Asian Tour

Shah Alam [SELANGOR]: Malaysia’s Gavin Green and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai proved they can take on the best players from Europe by maintaining their unbeaten streak at the US$4.8 million EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM.

Green and Phachara have so far won their fourballs and foursomes matches with their respective Japanese partners Yuta Ikeda and Hideto Tanihara while China’s Li Haotong, who is also making his debut at the EurAsia Cup, showed he can be counted upon as he sunk a birdie on the last hole to halve his last fourball match against Bernd Wiesberger and Rafa Cabrera Bello on the opening day.

Li continued his effective partnership with Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung when they wrapped up the day’s matches with a convincing 3&1 victory over Bernd Wiesberger and Ross Fisher of England.

Green underlined his growing credentials as Asia’s number one as he held his nerve to deliver another morale boosting point for the team. They had stood on the verge of a foursomes whitewash after the Europeans had put the first three points on the board at one stage.

“We were just up and down the whole day. We had a couple hiccups in the middle of the round and had a couple of hiccups towards the end, but we managed to pull off a strong finish, which was very important because we were 2-down with four [holes] to go. We were just trying to make birdies and keep it in the fairway. That’s all we can do,” said Green.

Green and Ikeda ended their round in a flourish after going 2-down through 14 holes before winning the next three holes. They parred 18 to win by one hole.

“We made a clutch putt on 15. We hit a good tee shot on 16. We gave ourselves looks. You know, I think that was the most important thing, and you know, we did not give up. We had a bad break on 14. I hit a decent tee shot and plugged in the bunker. That was unfortunate. But I think the most important thing is it’s a team game. We both contributed two points to the team and that’s awesome,” noted the 24-year-old Malaysian.

“We just have to think that we are going to go ahead and enjoy it no matter what happens. We’ve done a lot to come this far, and we are just going to try to push as much as we can.

Phachara Khongwatmai combined perfectly with Hideto Tanihara to win their foursome match after making six birdies ©Arep Kulal|Asian Tour

Phachara then steadied the ship with Tanihara by bringing down Alex Noren of Sweden and Ireland’s Paul Dunne 2&1 to shift the momentum back to Asia at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

“I played very well today especially my putting. It was good to see most of the putts going into the hole today. Before going out to the course, I just told myself one thing and that is to do my best for Asia.

“Hideto is a very good partner and we combine really well. He taught me a lot and been guiding me well this week. I’m happy with how our partnership has gone and the results have shown the last two days,” noted the 18-year-old Thai, who is the youngest player in the tournament.