Sukree shoots an ace to share halfway lead in PGM Northport
PETALING JAYA: Sukree Othman of Malaysia scored a hole-in-one en route to carding a three-under 69 and a share of the halfway lead at the RM225,000 PGM Northport Championship here.
He started the day emphatically by making an ace on hole two followed by birdies on the following two holes.
The Malaysian dropped two shots at the sixth but steadied himself before signing for a seven-under 137 total at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club yesterday.
Mathiam Keyser of South Africa and Thailand’s Chanat Sakulpolphaisan shared the lead after carding 68 and 66 respectively.
The 31-year-old Keyser went on a birdie streak after starting his round with eleven straight pars. In his last seven holes, he traded five birdies against a lone bogey while Chanat impressed with a bogey-free round.
The Thai did not put a foot wrong as he made three birdies on both sides of the turn.
Malaysia’s Daeng Abdul Rahman is in lone fourth place after carding a six-under 66 for a two-day total of 138.
Sukree was able to keep his emotions in check, which paid dividends in the end.
“I felt good after my first three holes. Unfortunately, I made a double bogey at the par-five sixth, which was quite an easy hole to score. I had to recompose myself and move on. Fortunately, I made two more birdies after the turn,” said Sukree.
He added: “For round three, hopefully, I can do as well as I did over the last two days. I’m confident of my chances. Everyone wants to win the tournament, and I’m no different. It’s hard to predict in golf. I’m just going to take it one shot at a time.”
Daeng, who is playing in his second year as a professional, started his tournament at the eighth hole.
“The birdie at the eighth hole set me up for the back nine. It was a downhill 25-feet putt and I managed to get it in. I didn’t drop a single shot after that,” said Daeng, who carded a 72 on Wednesday.
Everyone wants to win the tournament, and I’m no different. Sukree Othman