Local star Lin Wen-hong blasted a course record nine-under 63 on the way to a three stroke lead at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters yesterday.
Lin, 31, rolled in an impressive nine birdies and bettered the previous course record set by Yuan Ching-chi in 1990. He produced a two-day total of 10-under 134 to lead defending champion Lu Wen-teh, who posted a 67 in the second round.
Compatriot Hsu Mong-nan shot a similar score for a 139 total to lie in third place at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club. Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat was even-par in the mix in fourth spot, alongside South Korea’s Kim Nam-kang who shot a 68. Also in joint fourth place were Australia’s Mitchell Brown, local player Kao Bo-song and Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, who all fired 71.
PHOTO: LIU HSIN-DE, TAIPEI TIMES
With a steady iron game behind him, Lin was five-under after nine holes, before closing in with four more birdies that included a birdie on the final 18th hole.
“I was five-under after the front nine and I told myself that I could go really low,” said Lin, who is the younger brother of this year’s Asian Tour International winner Lin Wen-tang. “I holed a two-foot birdie putt on the last hole. It was a simple stroke that broke the course record and I’m extremely happy.”
Defending champion Lu was pleased to take advantage of the calm conditions in the morning, firing five birdies.
“The conditions were ideal today and I’m happy to ride on that,” he said. “I turned 45 this year, but I feel like a 35-year-old. There is still a lot left in me and I don’t see myself retiring anytime soon.”
Hsu, 36, also hopes to stay within striking distance heading into the weekend.
“I am not thinking about winning, but I hope to remain solid this week. I was steady on the greens as I had 12 putts on the front nine alone,” said Hsu, who won on the China circuit in June. “But the conditions today helped a lot. I hope to build on my confidence this week as my run this year has not been very impressive.”
■FORTIS INTERNATIONAL
AFP, KUALA LUMPUR
South Korea’s Kim Hyung-tae and Bae Sang-moon maintained their grip at the Fortis International Challenge after battling to an even par 72 in the second round foursomes yesterday.
The South Koreans, who led by three overnight, saw their lead reduced to two strokes after the Philippines team of Angelo Que and Mars Pucay carded a 70 to move into second. Underdogs Nigeria produced the day’s joint best round of 69 in the tougher alternate-shot format with little-known Oyebanji Gboyega and Odoh Andrew Oche moving into third place.
It puts them within reach of one of the three tickets at stake to the US$5.5 million World Cup in China in November. Myanmar’s Soe Kyaw Naing sank a hole-in-one at the 14th as he and partner Zaw Zaw Latt carded a 69 for equal fourth with Singapore’s Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing (73) and Italy’s Francesco Molinari and Edoardo Molinari (71).
Playing foursomes for the first time, Kim and Bae endured a roller-coaster day with four birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey to stay atop the leaderboard on nine-under 135.
“Even par, we’re happy,” Kim said. “Both of us were under too much pressure and we started worrying about each other and this added to the team pressure.”
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