Ariffin shows grit and determination to clinch win
Denwit Boriboonsub of Thailand closed the gap on overnight leader Amir Nazrin during Round Two of the PKNS Selangor Masters in Petaling Jaya on Friday, posting a one under score of 70 to tie the lead going into the final rounds.
Malaysia’s Nazrin, who posted a six under score of 65 yesterday, was not able to maintain the pace for a second day, scoring bogeys on the final hole of each nine at Kebab Golf Seri Selangor for a two round total of 137.
Amir Nazrin
His compatriot Edven Ying, who held a share of second place in the US$150,000 Asian development Tour event overnight, managed to keep in touch with the leaders, but after a colorful round with five birdies and as many bogeys, drops to third on four under.
Sharing the group in third place were two overnight movers, Jack Murdoch of Australia and Singapore’s Gregory Foo, who both carded rounds of 68 to add to their first round totals of 70. Both posted one of the few eagles on the board, Foo on the par five fifth hole, and Murdoch on the equally lengthy par five sixth.
Edven Ying
Shariffuddin Ariffin holds solo sixth after his one over par round, which although it included six birdies, also saw too many dropped shots, including a double on the par 3 third hole.
Fellow Malaysian Danny Chia matched his first round score of 70, as dis Van Thomas of the USA, and the pair share seventh spot with a combined score of 140, three shots back of the leaders.
Gregory Foo
The Philippine duo of Lloyd Jefferson Go and Ira Alido occupy ninth place on the board at one under par, Alido posting a four under score of 67 to make up for his three over 74 in Round One.
In a group of four in 11th place, Abdul Hadi of Singapore and England’s Joe Heraty are joined by Thailand’s Nattawat Suvajanakorn and Nirun Sae-ueng, all on even par after two rounds with a score of 142.
The cut after Round Two was set at eight over par, and 50 golfers will continue into Round Three.
Malaysia’s Amir Nazrin overcame a shaky start to set the early pace at the PKNS Selangor Masters on Wednesday, recovering from a first hole bogey to claim a final score of 65 and a lead of two strokes in the first round.
A powerful closing stretch with five birdies in seven holes set him apart from his nearest contenders, Thailand’s Denwit Boriboonsub and fellow Malaysian Shariffuddin Ariffin, who each posted a four-under 67.
Edven Ying, also of Malaysia, was part of the afternoon wave and joined the group in second place as play drew to a close at the par 71 Seri Selangor course.
Shahriffuddin Ariffin
England’s Joe Heraty leads a group in fifth place on three under, joined by Lloyd Jefferson Go of the Philippines, Malaysia’s Galven Green and Suttjet Kooratanapisan of Thailand.
Chonlatit Chuenboonngam of Thailand sits in solo ninth place at two under, with a big group in joint 10th on one under par, including Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij of Thailand, England’s Joshua Grenville-Wood, Singapore’s Gregory Foo, Jack Murdoch of Australia, America’s Van Thomas and the Malaysian trio of veteran Danny Chia, Leunkwang Kim and amateur Hariz Hezri.
Joe Heraty
Japanese amateur Daichi Hayashi, only 12 years old, set a new record as the event got underway, becoming the youngest ever to tee it up on tour. The previous record was set by Malaysia’s Gavin Green at 13 when he started in the Iskandar Johor Open.
The Japanese youngster, who posted a first round score of 82, has quite a bit of work to do to break his next record, that of Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond.
In 2010, the 2019 Order of Merit winner became the youngest player ever to make the halfway cut in an Asian Tour event, playing the weekend as an amateur at the age of 14 years, 71 days.
Selangor State Development Corporation, or PKNS – the title sponsor of the Selangor Masters, which commences tomorrow at Kelab Golf Seri Selangor – have welcomed the opportunity to partner with one of Malaysia’s best-known events.
The US$150,000 tournament, which is part of the Asian Development Tour (ADT), was last held in 2014 and as the honourable Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari explained at a press conference today with the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic over the chance to get involved with the event was too good to miss.
“When we heard there was an opportunity to host an Asian Development Tour event, we quickly jumped at the offer,” said Dato’ Seri Amirudin, who is also chairman of the PKNS Board.
“Despite the last-minute notice we are rather excited at being able to host a professional event again.
“I’m also happy to announce that this tournament is being organized in conjunction with the 77th birthday celebrations of His Highness the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharifuddin Idris Shah.”
Dato’ Seri Amirudin also added that the players will be contesting for the Sultan of Selangor Cup and that golf plays an important role in the State’s ongoing efforts to increase tourism revenue through sporting events like the PKNS Selangor Masters.
The event’s purse of US$150,000 makes it one of the more lucrative stops on the Asian Development Tour this year, which boasts a total of 16 events with two more remaining after this week.
Headlining the event will be Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai and Chonlatit Chuenboonngam who are ranked one and two on the circuit’s Order of Merit.
Singapore’s Mardan Mamat, Malaysia’s Danny Chia and Kieran Vincent from Zimbabwe, brother of Asian Tour star Scott, have also entered along with Malaysian Ben Leong – winner of the inaugural Selangor Masters in 2008.
With the top 10 on the Final Order of Merit gaining Tour cards to compete on the Asian Tour next year, the competition is expected to be fierce, particularly for the local contingent.
Malaysians Sharifuddin Ariffin and Paul San are currently ranked seventh and ninth respectively and will want to take advantage of the home support to maintain their hopes for 2023.
Also, in with a chance of moving into the top 10 is Malaysian Ervin Chang, ranked 15th and just over US$3,000 short of 10th placed Naraajie Ramadhanputra of Indonesia.
Notable other names playing this week are Galven Green, brother of Gavin, Khor Kheng Hwai, Danny Chia, Airil Rizman and veteran M. Ramayah.
Japanese amateur Daichi Hayashi is also playing, and aged 12 years old he is the youngest player ever to compete in an ADT event.
A total of 60 Malaysians, including a handful of amateurs, will tee up on the challenging Par 71 Seri Selangor layout, designed by well-known architect Ross Watson. The par-five 18th will play as a par four, as has always been the case for professional tournaments.
Seri Selangor has often been referred to as the only true public course in Malaysia. It is well-known for its firm, fast greens and narrow fairways hemmed in by towering trees.
The ADT season continues on to Riyadh GC from Dec 8-10 for the Saudi Open and finally the Taifong Open in Chinese Taipei from Dec 22-25. Both events offer US$200,000 in prize money.
Asian Development Tour (ADT) players can look forward to a bumper end-of-season bonanza.
Making a welcome return to the schedule after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Taifong Open will act as the decisive, final event on the 2022 ADT.
With the leading 10 players, not otherwise exempted, on the final 2022 ADT Order of Merit following the conclusion of the Taifong Open earning their Asian Tour cards for the 2023 season, it promises to be a memorable week in Chinese Taipei.
Further good news for participants at the Taifong Golf Club from December 22-25 is that the prize fund is being increased by 25 per cent to US$200,000, becoming the joint richest event on the ADT.
When the tournament was last staged on the ADT at the end of 2019, the purse was US$160,000.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO, Asian Tour, said: “Given that the Taifong Open will once more bring down the curtain on the ADT season, it’s a fabulous development that we’ll have a significant rise in prize money.
2019 Taifong Open winner Donlaphatchai Niyomchon.
“With Asian Tour cards on the line and so much at stake, it’s fitting that the Taifong Open will offer the equal highest purse on the Tour, reflecting the importance of the week.”
When the Taifong Open was last held on the Asian Development Tour in the final week of 2019 it was Thai Donlaphatchai Niyomchon who emerged triumphant.
It was the sixth year in succession that the Taifong Open had been part of the ADT.
Previous winners of the Taifong Open were Chinese Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang (2018 and 2014); Thai Pannakorn Uthaipas (2017); American Johannes Veerman (2016) and Thai Rattanon Wannasrichan (2015).
Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai sensationally made it three wins within a month in Indonesia on the ADT when he triumphed in the US$100,000 Combiphar Players Championship, at Parahyangan Golf, in September.
He tops the Order of Merit and his three brilliant victories meant he earned a battlefield promotion on to the Asian Tour for the remainder of this season.
Three events remain this season: the Selangor Masters, the Saudi Open and the Taifong Open.
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