Kennedy and Kumar lead as 15 year old Thai sensation battles

Choengchai may have had a rough opening round at the par 71 Pattana Golf and Sports Resort course but the big hitting 15-year-old, who decided to turn pro in July, is bent on making it to the top-40 and ties for a card next season.

He shot a one-over-par 72 which included a double bogey at the last hole but the youngster admitted that it was his careless tee shots rather than nerves that sent his score soaring in the closing stages as he was in tied 76th place.

“I played well but had a few careless tee shots like the one on the final hole. I am relaxed and will try to improve my score tomorrow,” said Choengchai, who trains at the Lana Sports Complex in Chiang Mai. He had also won a local junior amateur Open title last year.

“I have been approached by some of the players here who told me that my driving is really good so it gives me motivation to further improve my game. I can strike it close to 300 yards on average which I think is thanks to my swinging technique,” he added.

Firing a bogey free 65, joint leader from Australia Troy Kennedy believes that he is back on track after having going through a 12 week layoff mid-year in preparation for the Asian Tour Qualifying School.

“I took a break from golf because I’ve been playing a lot but haven’t been getting the result I was looking for. I decided to take a break mid year in preparation for the Asian Tour Qualifying School. I’m glad I made that decision,” said Kennedy.

India’s Ashok Kumar fired a six-under-par 66 at the par 72 Emerald Golf Course and was tied for the lead with Kennedy while Scotsman Scott G. Jamieson and American Jin Park were in joint third spot a stroke behind alongside Switzerland’s Martin Rominger.

Kim Hye-dong of Korea shot the day’s hole-in-one at the 13th hole at the Emerald Golf Course.

The players who will have to compete on both courses before the top-100 and ties head to the third round on Friday.

December 13, 2006