By Rahul Banerji
Adian Development Tour graduate Yuvraj Singh Sandhu led the Indian contingent at the 55th Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur in shared 14th place and a day to go.
Chandigarh’s Sandhu shot a second successive round in the 60s (70-64-67, 12 under par 201) at the $1 million Asian Tour season-opener in Malaysia, a stroke ahead of two-time Indian Open winner S.S.P. Chawrasia.
At the top, Q School graduate Jared Du Toit of Canada fired a 9 under 62 to lead the 69 remaining in the field after the cut on Friday.
Chawrasia (69-65-68) was tied for 20th on 11 under 202 while day one co-leader Veer Ahlawat (62-71-70) had slipped into a share of 27th on 10 under 203.
Other Indians in the mix after Saturday’s third round at the Mines Resort and Golf Club, in Kuala Lumpur were Honey Baisoya (70-66-70, 7 under 206) in tied 56th and Chikkarangappa S. (69-66-73, 5 under 208) at T66.
Not making the cut were Karandeep Kochhar (68-70), Ajeetesh Sandhu (68-72), Rashid Khan (71-70), Gaganjeet Bhullar 74-68) and Jeev Milkha Singh (72-71).
At the top, Du Toit is on 17 under, one stroke ahead of joint overnight leader Kevin Yuan of Australia who shot a 68 on Saturday to in turn lead US’s John Catlin by a shot.
According to the Asian Tour website, Spain’s David Puig with a 62 was tied for fourth, three off the lead, with Korean Bio Kim and Deyen Lawson from Australia and England’s Steve Lewton..
The other co-leader, local boy Khavish Varadan had a 72 to sit five shots off the pace, along with compatriot Ervin Chang, who carded a 69.
Birdie rush
“You know everything was working, just one of those,” said 28-year-old Du Toit, from Alberta who made 10 birdies, including four in succession from the ninth and three on the trot from the 15th, and one bogey, the website said.
“Got off to a nice start, made a nice birdie on the first hole, and just kind of kept it going. Hit a lot of quality shots on the smart side of the hole, and the putter got hot for me, and I made a couple.
“Probably the hole of my tournament was the bogey on 14, the par-three. I hit it in the water, did not hit a great wedge shot but made an 18 footer. That kept the momentum going. Just all in all a great day.”
The Canadian also played the Korn Ferry Qualifying School and is delighted to be finally playing for money in a tournament.
Du Toit, who won on the PGA Tour Canada in 2021, added: “I am loving being in Asia. It’s only my second time here, I was in Thailand for the Q School. I love Asian food, so it’s been pretty seamless there.
“I chose Asia as I wanted kind of a promotion for lack of better words. Played Canadian and Latin tours for a while and I heard great things about Asia, all the events, places you get to travel.
“It really excited me, so I signed up, and I was lucky enough to make it through Q School and now we are here.”
Repeat feat?
On Sunday, Du Toit will hope to emulate Rick Gibson at the event in 1991, making him the only Canadian to win Malaysia’s National Open so far.
Yuan, chasing his first Asian Tour win, went out in one over but recovered well with a four-under homeward half.
He said: “It was a fun day out there, the pins were a little bit tougher, so I played a little bit more safe today. Overall, I am pretty happy with how I played, not too many huge mistakes. I am just looking forward to tomorrow.”
Catlin is looking for his fifth Asian Tour title and will be one of the favourites on Sunday.
“I am happy, excited to be in this position,” the American said.
“I made a couple of mistakes but even that missed putt on 18 was so, so close. The putter feels good in my hands, and it’s been a while since that’s been the case. It’s a matter of going through the same processes tomorrow, nothing changes.”
Also read: Ahlawat, Jazz share opening day lead at Malaysian Open
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