Amir ahead by two shots at Selangor Masters

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s Amir Nazrin posted a superb six-under 65 to grab the first-round lead in the PKNS Selangor Masters.

Trading two birdies against a bogey on the front nine, Amir stormed home with five birdies for an inward 30 at Seri Selangor Golf Club.

He leads the Asian Development Tour (ADT) event by two shots from Thailand’s Denwit Boriboonsub and compatriots Shahriffuddin Ariffin and Edven Ying.

“I was nervous, especially after bogeying the first hole but my caddy kept telling me to keep calm and stick to my game.

“I just focused on hitting fairways and greens. I managed to make two birdies on the front nine. I kept the momentum going after that,” added the 25-year-old, who is in 33rd place on the ADT Order of Merit.

In joint fifth place on 68 are Malaysia’s Galven Green, England’s Joe Heraty, Thailand’s Suttijet Kooratanapisan and Lloyd Jefferson Go of the Philippines. ADT Order of Merit leader Suteepat Prateeptienchai of Thailand shot an even-par 71 and is tied in 18th place.

Jointly sanctioned with the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour, the PKNS Selangor Masters features a field of 132 consisting of 81 players from the ADT, 41 from the PGM Tour and 11 sponsor invitations.

The tournament was inaugurated in 2008 as an Asian Tour event and was last staged in 2014 when Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat won at Seri Selangor.

With three events left, the PKNS Selangor Masters will thus play a crucial role in determining the final Order of Merit where the top 10 earn playing rights on the Asian Tour.