2006 Pulai Springs Malaysian Masters - Round 1: Haig and Both tied on top

South African Anton Haig and Aussie ace Marcus Both were tied for the lead in the first round of the US$300,000 Pulai Springs Malaysian Masters on Thursday.

Haig, 20, enjoyed his best start on the Asian Tour as he fired a nine-under-par 63 alongside Both who started his Johor campaign with a blemish free round at the Pulai Springs Resort.

A stroke behind was Australia’s Unho Park who was in lone third place while Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat, who is currently 17th on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit, shot eight birdies against a single bogey as he was in tied fourth position with New Zealander Kevin Chun.

Compatriot Anusorn Songserm scored a 66 and was in joint sixth together with Sri Lanka’s Anura Rohana, Myanmar’s Zaw Moe and the Australian trio of Gary Simpson, Adam Blyth and Robin Hodgetts.

Haig, who started from the 10th tee, was on the hunt with two consecutive birdies on the 11th and 12th holes but dropped a shot at the 13th hole. Two more birdies on the 15th and 16th holes put him back on track as he fired four more birdies on the inward nine. Haig, a winner on the South African Sunshine Tour, was two strokes off the pace from Both before he fired an eagle at the par five ninth hole.

“I’m probably playing some of the best golf in my life at the moment. I hit it on target today and I hope to keep it up the rest of the week,” said Haig, who finished 10th at the Crowne Plaza Open in China two weeks ago.

“The eagle was one of my highlights today as I struck it well off the tee and used a seven iron which landed around 10 feet from the pin.

“My good form is thanks to the driver I borrowed from Nico Van Rensburg. The head came off from my old driver while I was at the driving range in Sanya (for the Crowne Plaza Open) and I have been using the borrowed driver ever since,” said Haig.

Both, the 2003 Rookie of the Year in Asia, had a consistent opening round as he carded nine birdies.

“That was a nice round. The last couple of weeks I was in good position but made a few silly mistakes but today everything worked out well,” said Both.

Big-hitting Chapchai continued his fine form as he had previously finished in the top-10 at the Brunei Open on Sunday.

“My form is coming back and I’m very pleased because now everything is working out for me,” said Chapchai. “Tomorrow I hope to birdie all the par fives and produce an even stronger result,” he said.

Local talent Airil Rizman Zahari, Shaifubari Muda and S. Murthy enjoyed a promising start on Malaysia’s National Day as they shot matching 70s.

“The course condition was great but my game on the first nine was not too good but I managed to bounce back with a solid run on the back nine,” said Shaifubari.

Malaysia's top gun Danny Chia, however, was struggling out on course when he twisted his right ankle in the practice round on Wednesday as he stumbled to a 76.

India’s Shiv Kapur, after his return from the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, was in joint 22nd spot as he carded a 68.

“A 68 is a good start though. I’ll be teeing off late tomorrow so I hope to get some rest. I’m not too tired and I feel like I’m close to getting back my full form,” said Kapur, who is the 2005 Volvo Masters of Asia winner.

Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, last season's top-ranked golfer on the Asian Tour, and compatriot Chinarat Phadungsil shot identical 69s while India’s Jyoti Randhawa scored a 70.

The top five finishers will qualify for the Barclays Singapore Open next week.

Leading first round scores
63 - Marcus Both (AUS), Anton Haig (RSA)
64 - Unho Park (AUS)
65 - Chapchai Nirat (THA), Kevin Chun (NZL)
66 - Zaw Moe (MYN), Gary Simpson (AUS), Adam Blyth (AUS), Anusorn Songserm (THA), Anura Rohana (SRI), Robin Hodgetts (AUS)
67 - Mike Cunning (USA), Boonchu Ruangkit (THA), Soe Kyaw Naing (MYN), Matt Keegan (AUS), Gurbaaz Mann (IND), Barry Hume (SCO), Keith Horne (RSA), Ross Bain (SCO), S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND), Jochen Lupprian (GER)
68 - Corey Harris (USA), Chen Yuan-chi (TPE), Adam Groom (AUS), Scott Strange (AUS), Simon Yates (SCO), Hendrik Buhrmann (RSA), Gary Rusnak (USA), Eddie Lee (NZL), Shiv Kapur (IND), Digvijay Singh (IND), Lin Chie-hsiang (TPE), Michael Wright (AUS), Henry Perks (AUS), Yasin Ali (ENG), Amandeep Johl (IND), Bryan Saltus (USA), Mike Capone (USA), Chan Song (KOR)

August 31, 2006

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