Quincy Quek of Singapore fired two eagles for a five-under-par 67 to pull two shots clear at the halfway stage of the PGM CCM Rahman Putra Championship on Thursday.
The 28-year-old, who married long-time girlfriend Celine in December, leads on 10-under-par 134 while local ace Danny Chia trails in second place following a 68 at the RM200,000 (approximately US$55,400) Asian Development Tour (ADT) event.
Title holder Brett Munson, Shane Smith of the United States, Khor Kheng Hwai of Malaysia, James Byrne of Scotland, the winner here in 2013 and Dominic Foos of Germany, were a further two shots back alongside Thai trio Wisut Artjanawat, Phachara Khongwatmai and Phachara Khongwatmai.
Quek produced his first eagle when he curved his hybrid-second shot on the third hole before holding his nerve to sink a 25-footer eagle putt at the Kelab Rahman Putra Malaysia.Ā
He landed his second eagle of the day on hole 10 when his seven-iron approach shot landed six-feet from the hole.
āThe first eagle was good. I didnāt have a view of the green because of the overhanging trees and I had to hit it around the trees and hole a good putt. It was a good way to start my round,ā Quek smiled.
The tall Singaporean was pleased with his round of two eagles and two birdies against a single dropped shot but he admits that the par saves were equally satisfying.Ā
āThere were a lot of times when I was faced with little five footers which were quite stressful but I managed to sink most of them so that was quite satisfying.
āI left quite a lot of birdie chances at the mouth of the hole. Judging the speed can be a little bit tricky here but overall happy with the way Iām approaching each shot. Iām fairly fortunate that the eagles dropped and gave myself a lot of birdie chances. It is always a good day when you do that,ā he explained.
A total of 52 players including amateurs Low Khai Jei and Ervin Chang of Malaysia qualified for the last two rounds as the halfway cut was set at one-under-par 143. Current ADT Order of Merit leader Arie Irawan made an early exit following a disappointing 79.
The ADT will reward the top-five finishers on the Order of Merit at the end of this season with Asian Tour cards for 2016.
With the Olympic Games looming in 2016 where golf will be reintroduced as a medal sport, players in the region could earn their spots in Rio de Janeiro by earning Official World Golf Ranking points through the Asian Tour and ADT.
For more information on the ADT, please visitĀ www.asiandevelopmenttour.com
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Leading second round scores:
134 – Quincy QUEK (SIN) 67 67
136 – Danny CHIA (MAS) 68 68
137 – KHOR Kheng Hwai (MAS) 70 67, Wisut ARTJANAWAT (THA) 73 64, James BYRNE (SCO) 67 70, Phachara KHONGWATMAI (THA) 71 66, Dominic FOOS (GER) 69 68, Brett MUNSON (USA) 68 69, Shane SMITH (USA) 68 69, Sutijet KOORATANAPISAN (THA) 68 69
138 – Atthaphon SRIBOONKAEW (THA) 68 70
139 – Abel TAM (MAS) 72 67, Jordan SHERRATT (AUS) 67 72, Settee PRAKONGVECH (THA) 68 71, Ervin CHANG (A) (MAS) 70 69
140 – Terumichi KAKAZU (JPN) 72 68, Lindsay RENOLDS (CAN) 71 69, Jake STIRLING (AUS) 73 67, Phiphatphong NAEWSUK (THA) 72 68, Jordan IRAWAN (INA) 67 73
141 – Donlaphatchai NIYOMCHON (THA) 74 67, Natthapong NIYOMCHON (THA) 66 75, LOW Khai Jei (A) (MAS) 71 70, Jinwoo PARK (KOR) 75 66, Nirun SAE-UENG (THA) 72 69, Malcolm KOKOCINSKI (SWE) 71 70, Tirawat KAEWSIRIBANDIT (THA) 70 71, Thammanoon SRIROJ (THA) 68 73, Erwan VIEILLEDENT (FRA) 70 71
