DANNY BACK IN TITLE HUNT – THANKS TO HIS SHORT GAME
Danny back in title hunt in Taiwan – thanks to his short game
PETALING JAYA: Danny Chia (pic) stayed in the hunt for his first Asian Tour title in two years after carding a three-under 69 in the third round of the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship (TPC) in Taiwan.
Danny’s three-round total of eight-under 208 sees him just two strokes behind the leaders going into today’s final round at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club in Taipei.
Local star Lu Wei-chih birdied the last hole to share the lead with India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu and American Johannes Veerman on 10-under 206 total.
Danny, who hit a one-under 71 in the second round on Friday, said his short game saved the day for him.
“I hit my driver very badly. I changed to a softer shaft this week, so it had a bit too much spin in the wind. My swing was okay but the ball was moving too much in the air. I only found four fairways today. My recovery and short game saved me today.
“It was very tough and mentally tiring because I struggled so much with my driver,” said Danny, whose last Asian Tour triumph was the Taiwan Masters in 2015.
Wei-chih, aiming to win the Yeangder TPC for the second time, birdied the 18th hole from three feet to return with a three-under-69.
Ajeetesh and Veerman, both searching for a first Asian Tour victory, posted a 68 and 70 to tie with the Taiwanese.
Filipino veteran Antonio Lascuna fired a 69 to be tied with Danny in fourth place.
The 38-year-old Wei-chih continued his brave comeback – after undergoing a brain surgery to remove a non-malignant tumour in 2012.
He claimed a sensational victory at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters last year and is now set to repeat his 2011 win at the Yeangder TPC.
“I tried to play my own game without any expectations. I maintained my tempo throughout the 18 holes,” said the Taiwanese.
“We started early in the morning and the conditions were windier and unpredictable. I had to stop a few times before hitting the ball. I don’t want to think about winning tomorrow (today). I want to trust my judgement on the greens.”
I hit my driver very badly. I changed to a softer shaft this week, so it had a bit too much spin in the wind.
DANNY CHIA