Port Dickson, Malaysia: Indonesia’s Danny Masrin rammed in a 40-foot birdie putt on his last hole ninth to sign for a second round three-under-par 68 and lead by one shot at the PGM Port Dickson Championship on Thursday.
The 23-year-old Masrin, who started the round with a one-shot deficit, marked his card with four birdies against a lone bogey to lead on nine-under-par 133 total at the RM200,000 (approx. US$46,600) Asian Development Tour (ADT) event.
Thai teenager Suradit Yongcharoenchai matched his efforts for the day with a 68 to sit in second place alongside local prospect Mohd Iylia Jamil, who returned with a second consecutive 67, at the Port Dickson Golf and Country Club.
Malaysia’s Gavin Green, chasing for an Olympic berth, also posted a 67 to stay two shots off the pace in fourth place with compatriot Sukree Othman and Thailand’s Jakraphan Premsirigorn, who were equally impressive, at the beach and holiday destination of Port Dickson.
Nicholas Fung of Malaysia and Indonesia’s George Gandranata were among those bunched in seventh place on 136 while Thailand’s Itthipat Buranatanyarat, placed second on the current money list, agonizingly missed the cut by one after carding a 69.
Starting from the 10th, Masrin traded two birdies against a bogey to turn in 35 before adding two more birdies to stay on track for a maiden win on the region’s burgeoning Tour.
“I didn’t hit it as good as I did yesterday but I stayed patient. I made some long putts for birdies, including a 40-footer on my last hole ninth. I took advantage on the par-fives and made a couple of good recovery shots too,” said Masrin, who turned professional in 2015.
“The game’s pretty solid. My iron-play was good. I gave myself a lot of chances for birdies out there. The season’s pretty good for me so far. I am just trying to put together four good rounds together. I’ll stick to the same game plan for tomorrow,” added the young Indonesian.
Suradit, youngest player in the field at 17 years old, credited his pinpoint approach shots for a solid round marked by four birdies against a lone bogey.
“My iron-play was good. I was able to hit it close. All my birdies were made from close range. I have been playing well. I will keep it up for the next two rounds and try to win the tournament. I will keep doing the same like how I did the last two days,” said the young Thai.
A total of 53 players made the halfway cut set at even-par 142 at the PGM Port Dickson Championship, which is the 15th leg of the ADT schedule this season.
The ADT, which was inaugurated in 2010 as the gateway to the premier Asian Tour, will reward the top-five finishers on the Order of Merit at the end of this season with Asian Tour cards for 2017.
Like all other ADT events, the PGM Port Dickson Championship offers Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, which will be key for players vying to qualify for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this August.
The winner will receive six OWGR points while the top six players and ties will also earn points based on a sliding scale.
For more information on the ADT, please visit www.asiandevelopmenttour.com.
Leading second round scores:
133 - Danny MASRIN (INA) 65 68
134 - Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA) 66 68, Mohd Iylia JAMIL (MAS) 67 67
135 - Jakraphan PREMSIRIGORN (THA) 68 67, Sukree OTHMAN (MAS) 68 67, Gavin GREEN (MAS) 68 67
136 - Nicholas FUNG (MAS) 68 68, Jay BAYRON (PHI) 67 69, George GANDRANATA (INA) 69 67, Mohamad Azman BASHARUDIN (MAS) 69 67
137 - Mathiam KEYSER (RSA) 68 69, David GLEESON (AUS) 69 68, Puk PRADITTAN (THA) 68 69, Nattawat SUVANAJANAKORN (THA) 66 71, Natthapong NIYOMCHON (THA) 67 70, Charles HONG (PHI) 69 68, Paul HARRIS (USA) 64 73, Johnson POH (SIN) 71 66
138 - Ian ANDREW (INA) 70 68, Johannes VEERMAN (USA) 67 71, Nitithorn THIPPONG (THA) 68 70, Hans JAMIL (MAS) 68 70, Panuwat MUENLEK (THA) 70 68, Samarth DWIVEDI (IND) 71 67
139 - M. Sasidaran (MAS) 70 69, Oscar ZETTERWALL (SWE) 70 69, Shaifubari MUDA (MAS) 68 71, Feroz Singh GAREWAL (IND) 69 70, Yuta SUDO (JPN) 72 67, Tanutchan PUAKTES (THA) 72 67
