Carlos closes in on Asian Tour card
JOBIM Carlos fired a two-under-par 70 yesterday and all but secured an Asian Tour card for the year, lying in 11th spot after three rounds of the final stage of Q School at Springfield Royal Country Club in Hua Hin, Thailand.
With a 54-hole 207 aggregate, only a major disaster can keep Carlos from bagging one of 40 slots put up for grabs for the season with India’s S. Chikkarangappa now setting the pace. Jay Bayron also put himself in great position towards gaining his card, rallying with a 66 to move inside the top 20 like Carlos.
Two other Filipinos have not been as lucky, with Orlan Sumcad and Michael Bibat way off the pace after a 74 and 73, respectively, dropped them way in the bottom.
EurAsia Cup
Meanwhile, in Kuala Lumpur, Europe grabbed a good lead over Asia in the EurAsia Cup by 4 1/2 to 1 1/2 after the opening day at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club on Friday.
Bernd Wiesberger and Ian Poulter notched five birdies and an eagle to beat Anirban Lahiri and Wang Jeung-hun 4 and 3 in the first fourballs match, then Kristoffer Broberg and Ross Fischer doubled that advantage.
The 6 and 4 victory over Kim Kyung-tae and Prayad Marksaeng looked to put Europe in cruise control, but the Asians came back through Byeong Hun-an and Thongchai Jaidee, who upstaged Danny Willett and Matthew Fitzpatrick 3 and 1.
Europe, however, regained a two-point advantage thanks to a 2 and 1 success through Shane Lowry and Andy Sullivan.
Despite the local cheers for Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung, who took turns trading birdies on the back nine, Lee Westwood and Chris Wood made sure Europe ended the day on a high by beating Kiradech Aphibarnrat and SSP Chawrasia 2 and 1.