Sports

Thursday July 16, 2009

Golf:Sivachandran, Shaifubari joint first-round leaders

By LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: Golfers S. Sivachandran and Shaifubari Muda raised early cheers for Malaysia when they carded sparkling five-under 67s to emerge as joint leaders after the first round of the Mercedes-Benz Masters Malaysia at the Saujana Golf and Country Club yesterday.

Sivachandran, who was the best Malaysian performer in 10th place at the Salcon Negri Masters in Seremban last week, showed resolute determination to produce another strong finish by posting a flawless round on the Palm Course.

The 30-year-old former national amateur champion shot birdies on the seventh, 11th, 13th, 15th and 17th holes to take top place on the leaderboard after the morning session’s play. He was joined in the afternoon by Shafubari Muda, who posted seven birdies against two bogeys.

One stroke behind the leaders are Negri Masters runners-up Lu Chien-soon of Taiwan and the Filipino duo of Marvin Dumandan and Mars Pucay.

Good day: Sivachandran clearing the ball from the rough at ninth hole during the first round Mercedes-benz Masters at the Saujana Golf & Country club Wednesday.

A host of top names are in contention with Singapore’s Quincy Quek shooting three-under 69 while Malaysia’s Iain Steel and the Philippines’ Felix Casas are on two-under 70.

Singaporean Lam Chih Bing, who beat Chien-soon in a playoff to take the Negri Masters title, carded a one-under 71.

The good start by Malaysian golfers has raised hopes of another home winner. Ben Leong won the tournament last year but he is out this time because of a wrist injury.

Sivachandran, who turned pro three years ago, hopes to continue with his momentum.

“I started slowly and was not hitting the ball very well. Thankfully, I made some good saves. I made a long birdie putt (from 40 feet) on number seven and it really helped my confidence,” he said.

Sivachandran won the Impian Classic, a 36-hole competition, for his maiden professional victory two weeks ago.

“My putting was really good today but what has really helped me play well recently is my approach iron play. I have been working hard on that and have stopped being too aggressive with that shot.”

Sivachandran’s best finish on the Mercedes-Benz Tour was a joint second in last year’s competition in Thailand.

Chien-soon had looked set to join Sivachandran and Shaifubari as leaders but dropped a shot on the par-five 18th after hitting his second shot into the trees.

“The four playoff holes in the Negri Masters last week made me so tired. I could not concentrate at the end. Never mind, I am very happy to be playing again and I will be pleased to be doing well again this week,” said the 50-year-old Taiwanese, who stopped playing golf in 2001 because of serious back problems.

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