Ben trails leaders by three shots after first round
PETALING JAYA: Ben Leong is three shots off the pace after the opening round of the Royal Cup golf championship in Thailand.
The 31-year-old carded a one-under 70 at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club in Pattaya yesterday, leaving him joint 20th in the US$500,000 (RM2mil) Asian Tour event.
Ben could have finished in a better position had he not fumbled in the closing stages.
Starting from the 10th tee, Ben was three-under through 15 holes thanks to birdies on the 10th, second and sixth holes.
But he had to settle for two strokes less after bogeying the seventh and ninth to trail Indian duo Shiv Kapur and Gaganjeet Bhullar and home trio Jazz Janewattananond, Raththee Sirithanakunsak and Panuphol Pittayarat who set the pace with matching four-under 67s.
Ben will be eager to build on his solid start as he bids for a second win on Tour. His sole
victory was the Selangor Masters in 2008.
The other two Malaysians, Nicholas Fung and Danny Chia, sit joint 41st after posting a 72.
Queen’s Cup champion Nicholas made five birdies but they counted for nothing as he also dropped six shots through four bogeys and a double bogey.
Two-time Asian Tour winner Danny traded four birdies against five bogeys.
This week’s event features a 78-man field and has no cut.