The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Jyoti Randhawa keeps lead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 11, 2004

Sport

Sport - Golf

Jyoti Randhawa keeps lead

KUALA LUMPUR, DEC. 10. India's Jyoti Randhawa maintained a slender two stroke lead with a two-under par 70 after the second round of the Masters of Asia golf championship here on Friday.

After carding a career best of 63 on Thursday, the former Asian champion opened strongly but faltered on the back nine with three bogeys and a birdie at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club.

China's Liang Wenchong (67) and Taiwan's Wang Ter-chang (66) exploited Randhawa's misfortune to narrow the Indian's lead by two strokes.

Liang who is searching for his first win on the Asian Tour carded 67, while Wang scored 66 to share second place and stay within striking distance of the lead. Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng was fourth, after adding a 69 to his opening 68.

Randhwa said a lapse of concentration proved costly, but he remained confident of winning his first tournament this season.

``I started well, but on the back nine I made some indecisions,'' said Randhawa. ``There was a lack of concentration and I hit some poor shots.''

Liang's bid for an upset victory was helped by a six-birdie round, highlighted by some excellent putting. But the golfer remained modest about his chances.

``There's no rush for me to win,'' said Liang. ``I'll try to do the same tomorrow and see where it puts me.''

In the race for top spot in the Asian Tour Order of Merit, Simon Yates of Scotland shot a second straight 70 for 11th position. But his arch rival Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand— last year's Masters of Asia champion— fared even worse, dropping to 20th place on a two-day total of 142.

Yates must at least finish in second place on Sunday if he hopes to prevent Thongchai from lifting the title.

The scores:

133: Jyoti Randhawa (Ind, 133: 63, 70); 135: Wang Ter-chang (Tai, 69, 66); Liang Wenchong (Chn, 68, 67); 137: Prayad Marksaeng (Tha, 68, 69); 138: Marcus Both (Aus, 70, 68); Edward Loar (U.S., 70, 68); Chawalit Plaphol (Tha, 69, 69); Craig Kamps (RSA, 68, 70); 139: Sushi Ishigaki (Jpn, 70, 69); 140: Lee Sung-man (S. Korea, 68, 71); Richard Moir (Aus, 72, 68); Simon Yates (Sco, 70, 70), Terry Pilkadaris (Aus, 70, 70); Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind, 67, 73); 141: Boonchu Ruangkit (Tha 72, 69); Clay Devers (U.S. 71, 70); Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha, 71, 70); Ted Oh (S. Korea 70, 71); Choi Gwang-soo (S. Korea, 70, 71); 142: Prom Meesawat (Tha, 73, 69; Lu Wen-teh (Tai, 71, 71); Pablo Del Olmo (Mex, 71, 71); Thongchai Jaidee (Tha 70, 72); Rahil Gangjee (Ind, 69, 73). — AP

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