Ben more determined to do well in Japan after son’s birth
PETALING JAYA: Fatherhood bliss has certainly got national golfer Ben Leong pumped up on the course.
The 32-year-old, who welcomed his first child with wife Chai Kai Nee on Monday, opened with an impressive four-under 67 to tie for 11th spot after the first round of the Panasonic Open at Ibaraki Golf and Country Club in Japan yesterday.
Ben struggled in the opening nine by mixing two birdies with three bogeys, but turned things around after the turn with five birdies to leave him just three shots behind joint leaders Shingo Katayama and Riyuka Hoshino.
“It has been a couple of weeks since we last teed up on the Asian Tour and it’s nice to get off to a good start,” he said.
“It was bumpy for my first nine holes with lots of bogeys and birdies. But I settled down in my back-nine and told myself not to give up.”
Ben, still searching for his first Asian Tour win since 2008, is now motivated than ever to do well in this week’s 150mil yen (RM5.43mil) event, which is jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour (JGT).
He hopes to justify the trip and not being with his wife when she was in labour.
“The arrival of my baby boy has given me lots of joy and new responsi-
bilities too,” said the 2008 Selangor Masters champion.
“My wife was not supposed to be due on Monday. He’s our first child and we don’t know when he’s going to come as it might be late or early.
“My wife has been really supportive and she told me, you don’t know when he’s going to come, so don’t miss this chance.
“So I’m going to give my 100% this week,” he vowed.
Nicholas Fung also got off to a decent start, carding a 69 to finish tied 24th. He marked his scorecard with one eagle, two birdies and two bogeys.
Danny Chia was not be too happy despite signing for an even-par 71.
After four birdies in his opening five holes of the day, he endured a roller-coaster round that saw him mixing two birdies, three bogeys and one triple bogey in the eight-hole stretch starting from the sixth.
He finished the day tied 57th.