SERI KEMBANGAN – Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond is currently tied at the top of the leaderboard with India’s V. Ahlawat after the first round of the US$1 million (RM4.7 million) Malaysian Open at the Mines Resort and Golf Club today.
However, Janewattananond said that the long break and time spent at a training stint in South Korea contributed to his good start in the tournament.
Janewattananond shot a round of 9 under par 62 which included seven birdies and one eagle on the 11th hole.
“Really good start to the week and the year as well. A good long break seems to have done me some good. I got a lot of rest and played some golf.
“I went to South Korea to work with a new coach at the BFG Korea golf school. It did me a lot of good. I was training under the head coach, Si Woo-lee, for three weeks. I was working on getting my balance back,” the 28-year-old told reporters He added that he does not want to repeat the struggles of recent years, fighting to make the cut at every tournament.
“I just want to be playing well this year. I just want to be teeing up and feeling confident. I want to be in contention; I don’t like fighting to make the cuts, and I don’t like being left behind and not playing for anything.
“To be on the golf course is good, but I would rather be on the golf course playing well. That’s my goal. On the 11th hole today, I decided to putt off the green for the eagle,” added Janewattananond.
Meanwhile, Ahlawat matched the Thai’s score with 10 birdies, and he would have opened the gap at the top of the leaderboard if he had not dropped a bogey on the 18th hole to share the lead.
At the same time, Canadian Richard T. Lee is in third, just a shot behind the duo, while home crowd favorites Gavin Green and Khavish Varadan are tied-fourth on seven-under 64.
Danthai Boonma (Thailand), John Catlin (United States), Lee Chieh-Po (Taiwan), Steve Lewton (England), Park Ilion (South Korea), Justin Quiban (Philippines), Kevin Yuan (Australia) are tied in sixth place at 6-under par 65.
Defending champion Trevor Simsby from the US finished tied for 99th with 15 others with a score of even par 71. — February 15, 2024