Sabah Masters Rd 4: What They Said
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, November 24: Read what players have to say following the final round of the Sabah Masters on Sunday.
Pavit Tangkamolprasert (Tha) – Final round 65 (-6), Total 271 (-13)
It’s incredible. I really didn’t expect this. I didn’t even expect to get into a play-off. I finished my round early and I already changed out of my golfing attire and getting ready to go to the airport! Had to change back again when I know I’m in the play-off. It’s really incredible.
But this is golf. You never know what will happen till the last minute. I came close to winning the Thailand Open two weeks ago. I felt more pressure that week since it’s my National Open. But this week, I am more relaxed and I think that helped me a lot.
I hit my irons really well today. Putted well too. Didn’t get off to a good start. I dropped a shot on the third but made a lot of birdies after that to make the play-off. I have been working very hard on my game lately. It’s great to finally win.
Since my first win in Macao, I have had some setbacks, battling with a wrist injury. But it’s all in the past now. In golf, you just got to keep trying. You don’t know when it will come so you need to keep trying.
David Gleeson (Aus) – Final round 68 (-3), Total 271 (-13)
I feel good about the last round, I did everything that I wanted to do. I don’t think I really made any sort of, you know, like a crazy sort of errors it was just all very patient which is just a really good feeling.
I made some good birdies; I missed a few more birdies. You know I’m still not driving the ball great, but this course suits me because I can hit some three-woods and irons.
I just really felt quite good today actually, just within myself, and what shots I was trying to hit I was actually almost getting close to matching what I was seeing and feeling without sort of worrying about nerves. So you know that’s a good sign.
I think my game is better than it was back in the past. It’s more complete than back then. I played at a very high sort of emotional level back then. That’s what I have been working on, just to relax and enjoy the game.
Better pre-shot routines are in place and more routines for the whole week are in place. That’s the goal coming to next year, so let’s keep doing this for, well, until seniors, I guess!
Aman Raj (Ind) – Final round 63 (-8), Total 271 (-13)
Everything felt like was working in my way. Especially the putting part, because you know I’ve been hitting it decent saving my pars, but today was all about everything going in. I started with a chip in on the second hole.
Then again made birdie on the fifth hole and missed on the sixth, made a good par on the sixth actually, then seventh and eighth long putts for birdie. On 10th hole I made birdie from like 10 feet so that was good.
On the 11th I again had a chance from eight feet, but missed that, so I’m like that was a chance to like “go”. On the 13th I made birdie, that’s a good hole to make birdie It is kind of tough. I would say the toughest hole on this golf course. And I’ve been bogeying it like two days I believe. So yeah, there, that was the game changer.
I birdied the 15th and 16th and the 17th was a good two-putt from like 30 feet. On the 18th was again a good chip but for par, I tried for the chip-in but at the same time I had to keep my par safe. So, all in all I’m happy with today’s round.
I have been in an amateur play-off once or twice and, like, to be honest I haven’t won a play-off. It feels good to be in an Asian Tour play-off, I’ve never been in a play-off as a professional, so this is the first time.
Coming to the last I knew that I’m close, but at the same time, you know, I was just like, you know, there are a lot of a lot of people playing right now a lot of holes left, anything can happen. So just try your best, whatever you perform and look for it afterwards.
Phachara Khongwatmai (Tha) – Final round 67 (-4), Total 271 (-13)
I quite work hard today because I had a bad start on the front nine and then good to come back with four birdies in a row. I tried to make a couple more birdies more, but I can’t make it. But it’s okay I’m happy in this position right now.
This morning I’m just thinking like I thought maybe, like three rounds, just play my game. This afternoon, the rain came too late and I have to play 18. Still a good finish. I am happy for my friend Pavit. He deserves the win.
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, November 24: Australian David Gleeson edged closer to his fourth Asian Tour victory after rolling in a clutch par putt from 12 feet on the last to seize the outright lead following the penultimate round of the Sabah Masters on Sunday morning.
The 41-year-old Gleeson, who was one-under-par through eight holes and three shots off the lead when play was suspended on Saturday, returned to par the ninth hole before firing three birdies against a bogey on his back nine for a three-under-par 68.
Gleeson compiled a three-day total of 10-under-par 203 to lead by one shot over Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand, who stumbled with a closing double-bogey to sign for a 71 which saw him fall off the lead for the first time at the Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club.
Chinese Taipei’s Wang Wei-lun battled to a 70 to share third place with India’s Udayan Mane and Jakraphan Premsirigorn of Thailand on matching 205s in the US$300,000 event, which is supported by the Tourism Malaysia with an aim to boost tourism in Sabah.
With more than seven hours of play lost due to inclement weather over the last three days and expected rain in the afternoon, Tour officials have earlier made a decision for the tournament to spill into Monday if the final group managed to complete 13 holes when play is suspended on Sunday.
Should the final group, featuring Phachara, Dongha Lee and Sungho Lee, fail to get in at least 13 holes on Sunday, the fourth round will be cancelled and the tournament results will be based on the 54-hole scores.
Round 4 is in progress. For live scores, please click here.
Ends.
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, November 23: Young Thai talent Phachara Khongwatmai returned on Saturday morning to complete the remaining four holes of his second round and sign for a four-under-par 67 to grab a two-shot halfway lead at the Sabah Masters.
The 20-year-old Phachara, who emerged as one of the four co-leaders following the opening round, moved into the outright lead after carding five birdies against a bogey for a two-day total of nine-under-par 133 at the Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club.
Chinese Taipei’s Wang Wei-lun, Australian stalwart David Gleeson, as well as the Korean duo of Sungho Lee and Dongha Lee, shared second place after posting rounds of 68, 69, 68 and 67 respectively at the US$300,000 event.
Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski settles three shots off the pace in sixth with India’s Udayan Mane while newly crowned Asian Tour champion Jooohyung Kim of Korea is amongst those bunched in eighth place on 137.
A total of 69 players survived the halfway cut set at one-over-par 143. The second round of the Sabah Masters was halted by inclement weather on Friday and a total of 52 players returned to complete their rounds at 7.00am local time on Saturday.
The third and penultimate round of the Sabah Masters has commenced at 10.00am. For live scores and tee times, please click here.
The US$300,000 Sabah Masters, supported by the Tourism Malaysia with an aim to boost tourism in Sabah, is the ninth full-field event on the 2019 Asian Tour schedule.
Ends.
Did you know?
- Dongha Lee of Korea has not yet won on Tour, but he has two tied-second place finishes on the Korean Tour in 2017 and 2018.
- His best result on the Asian Tour is a tied-ninth at the 37th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship in 2018, and he also finished tied-eight at the same event in 2019.
- After narrowly missing his Asian Tour card by one shot at Q-School last December, Lee is playing on a country exemption this season and has made just over US$18,000 in his only three events.
- Lee’s first love was actually football. However, upon the encouragement of his parents to play golf at the age of 12, he got hooked to the sport and subsequently led him to turn professional in 1996.
- Malcolm Kokocinski claimed his breakthrough win at the 2018 AB Bank Bangladesh Open.
- Kokocinski first came to Asia in 2013 where he played on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) after failing to make the mark at the Asian Tour Qualifying School. He came through the Qualifying School for the first time after finishing fifth in 2016 but failed to retain his card for the following season after ending the season in 71st place on the Order of Merit.
- The 28-year-old Swede turned professional in 2012 and is based in Hua Hin, Thailand.
- Sitting in 81st place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, Kokocinski needs a strong showing this week to boost his ranking and break inside top-60 at the end of the season to retain his playing rights for 2020.
- At a young age of 17 years and 149 days, Joohyung Kim became the second youngest professional to win on the Asian Tour when he claimed his maiden win on the region’s premier Tour at the Panasonic Open India last week. It was only his third start on the Asian Tour this season.
- Kim had posted a third-place finish at the Bank BRI Indonesia Open and a tied-sixth place result at the Thailand Open prior to his Asian Tour breakthrough.
- The Korean talent had earned his playing rights for the remainder of the 2019 Asian Tour season after clinching his third title on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) this season in Pakistan last month.
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, November 22: Read what players have to say following the second round of the Sabah Masters on Friday.
Dongha Lee (Kor) – Second round 67 (-4), Total 135 (-7)
I putted really today, especially on my back nine which is the front nine of the course. Putting was key for me. I was able to drop some putts today and that was what made the difference, as compared to the first round yesterday.
I left myself with a lot of seven to 10 footers and I was able to make most of them today. I remember playing this course a few years ago. It’s nice to be back. The course is in a good shape.
Malcolm Kokocinski (Swe) – Second round 67 (-4), Total 136 (-6)
It was a good day. I am playing good for awhile now so it’s nice to be able to execute it well in the tournaments. I played very well, hitting the ball good, hitting a lot of greens, hitting a lot of fairways which is kind of boring golf but I gave myself chances and I was being more patient.
I have just been making some putts and it was rolling well. It’s just good all around. It was nice to finish strong. I played well all day, just missed some putts which got into my head a little bit but overall, it’s a nice feeling. I will try to be patient again for the weekend, let it go and see what happens. I’m looking forward to playing well so just keep doing my thing for sure.
I would say this course suits my game. It’s fun. I like Sabah too. Love the good atmosphere here. The people are really friendly like in the hotel too. I enjoy it here.
I was working on my swing before coming here. Actually, I have worked on my swing for quite a while. It looks good on video and feels good but I just haven’t been able to do it on a golf course so it’s been like a few big misses and some high numbers.
So I told myself this week to just let it go, no swing thoughts, just take it easy and focus on my tempo. Snow as well myself this week just to like, let it go you know no swing thoughts, which is easy just focus on my tempo and rhythm and make some putts.
Joohyung Kim (Kor) – Second round 70 (-1), Total 137 (-5)
It was really hot. I definitely left a lot out there. But I was hanging in there, I made a lot of good pars. And I fought back on the back nine. I made two birdies to shoot under-par.
I think the players in the afternoon session might play better but I am not in a bad position to strike for the weekend. I was hitting a lot of fairways and a lot of greens. Whenever I had the chances, I couldn’t make it.
I got a bit unlucky on the par-five seventh so I was frustrated going up the tee on eighth. I hit a bad shot there but I was fortunate for it to hit the rock and go into the bunker. It’s tough there but I just blasted it out and it went it. The chip was about 12 yards. That was probably the reason why I shot under-par today.
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, November 21: Young Thai talent Phachara Khongwatmai took advantage of his solid approach shots to sign for a five-under-par 66 and grab a share of the opening round lead at the US$300,000 Sabah Masters on Thursday.
The 20-year-old Thai ignited his title ambitions after firing seven birdies against two bogeys to sit atop the leaderboard with Indonesia’s Joshua Andrew Wirawan, as well as Aaron Wilkin and David Gleeson of Australia at the Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club.
Sabahan Ben Leong returned with a 67 to trail the leading quartet by one alongside in-form Joohyung Kim and Sungho Lee of Korea, India’s Rashid Khan and Wang Wei-lun of Chinese Taipei in the tournament, which is the ninth full-field event on the 2019 Asian Tour schedule.
Despite closing with a bogey, Phachara took pride in his opening efforts as he was able to fire at the flags all day and miss only one green in regulation. Gleeson was delighted to rediscover some of his best form as he capped a solid outing to mark his lowest round yet this season.
A host of players, including Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat, Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman and Khalin Joshi of India, were tied in 10th place after carding matching 68s in the event that is supported by the Tourism Malaysia with an aim to boost tourism in Sabah.
Did you know?
- Phachara Khongwatmai found 10 fairways and missed only one greens in regulation in his commendable round of 66.
- Starting from the 10th, Phachara birdied 11 but dropped a shot on 12. He bounced back with three birdies in-a-row from 15 to turn in 32. He would make another three straight birdies after the turn before three-putting for bogey on his last hole ninth.
- He claimed his third top-10 result this season when he came in tied-sixth at the Thailand Open two weeks ago.
- The 20-year-old Thai sits in 43rd place on the current Order of Merit with total earnings of US$79,757.
- Phachara came into prominence when he won the 2015 PGM CCM Rahman Putra Championship to become the youngest ADT winner at the age of 15.
- The Thai grabbed the last Asian Tour card on offer in 2015 when he won his second ADT title at the season-ending event to take the fifth spot on the ADT Order of Merit.
- Phachara finished a career-high third place on the Asian Tour Merit standings in 2017, thanks to four top-five finishes which include three runner-up results.
- David Gleeson, who hails from Queensland, is a three-time winner on the Asian Tour. His last victory came at the 2011 Hero Indian Open.
- The 41-year-old is playing in his fifth start on Tour this week. His best result in 2018 was a tied-sixth place finish at the Thailand Open. He won another title in the Philippines last year.
- Gleeson missed only two fairways and needed only 25 putts in his solid round of 66, which is the lowest 18-hole score he has recorded on the Asian Tour this season.
- Joshua Andrew Wirawan is playing on a sponsor’s invitation this week. He has played mainly on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) this year and this is only his second start on the Asian Tour this season.
- The 23-year-old Indonesian returned with a bogey-free round highlighted by five birdies, including three in his closing five holes.
- Aaron Wilkin is also playing on a sponsor’s invite this week. It is also his first start on the Asian Tour this season.
- The 26-year-old Australian dropped a shot on his opening hole 10 but recovered brilliantly with an eagle-three on 11 before adding four more birdies for a round of 66.
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, November 21: Read what players have to say following the opening round of the Sabah Masters on Thursday.
Phachara Khongwatmai (Tha) – First round 66 (-5)
I hit it really well off the tees today. I made some long putts as well for birdies. Most were from like 20 feet. Except for the three-putt bogey on the last hole ninth, everything else was good. I was able to make a lot of birdies today.
The aim was to hit fairway first and then aim for the green. I was able to do that today. Many people struggle on these greens so hitting the fairways and greens are the keys. But I think I can putt on these greens now. I feel comfortable with it.
It was hot out there but we didn’t get much wind, maybe only on the last five holes coming back.
Andrew Joshua Wirawan (Ina) – First round 66 (-5)
I hit my driver really well today, wedges too. Hit my mid irons not so good but I was able to recover and get up and down. I had a good stretch coming back. It was nice to finish with three birdies in my last five holes. I was able to hit it close.
It’s my first time playing here. I landed in Kota Kinabalu yesterday and managed to squeeze in a practice round in the afternoon. It’s a nice course out there. You need to hit it good off the tees to score out there. I am happy with my start.
David Gleeson (Aus) – First round 66 (-5)
I got off to a good start today. Sometimes the rain sort of smooths out the greens a little bit so it was quite good early on and then it just got normal towards the end. This course is actually set up quite well because it’s generally sort of easy looking but it’s not playing that way.
The greens are quite firm but I got a few birdies on some of the harder house today. So yeah, just keep playing and looking forward to you know, setting up a few things to play well, just a few tournaments before Christmas, and I’m going to try and play a lot of golf next year.
Nice to get that three birdies in a row. I just make some three to five-foot putts. You got to do your due diligence here because greens can be tricky. I played here back in 1999 when we had the first event here.
The course was very long then. It’s quite interesting to see how it has changed after so many years. I was back home for awhile before this week. Played a few events. Just been working on the game and see what I can do next year.
Ben Leong (Mas) – First round 67 (-4)
I got off to a good start. I played pretty alright. I thought it was playing quite tough out there. I got my putter working on my front nine today, which is the back nine of the course. I didn’t hit the ball that great but my putting saved me a bit.
Dropped a shot on the first but still managed to drop some putts which kind of steadied the ship and I was able to build some momentum coming back. It was a patience game out there definitely.
Some holes I thought par would be a good score but I made birdie. Some holes I thought I need to make birdie but I made par. But overall, it’s a good start. The greens are a bit on the firm side today. The wind came up a bit mid round which makes it tougher.
Joohyung Kim (Kor) – First round 67 (-4)
We didn’t get much breeze, as I would have thought in the afternoon. So it was kind of easier but it was hot out there. India was like pretty chilly so coming here, although it has been three days already, I still find it a bit hot.
I putted pretty well. I made a good 20-footer for birdie on the first hole. I made a good 10-footer on the third. I did have a couple of mistakes today that I wish I didn’t make. Those won’t tough holes so I wouldn’t want to make bogeys there but I bounced back really well.
This course’s a bit short. We played narrow fairways last week. So coming here, it looks a bit wider. I’m driving the ball well and I’m putting well so if I can just keep this up for the next three days, it would be nice.
Recent Comments