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Day 1

November 27th 2009, Dongguan, China: Japan continues to spearhead Asia’s challenge after they closed with a second round one-under-par 71 to take fourth place at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup on Friday.

The Japanese pair of Ryuji Imada and Hiroyuki Fujita posted a two-day-total of 11-under-par 133 to stay seven shots behind leader Ireland.

The Indian pairing of Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa got their World Cup campaign back on track when they added a 68 to their opening 67 to take a share of seventh place alongside South Africa, England and New Zealand.

Singapore remained in contention for their best-ever finish at the World Cup by posting a 70 for an equal 11th place with Argentina, China, Denmark and Chile on 135.

Starting the day in third place, the Japanese slipped a place down to fourth after they marked their card with four bogeys and five birdies at the famed Olazábal Course at Mission Hills Golf Club.

“We didn’t manage to return with the kind of score that we had on the opening day but with the fourballs format coming back tomorrow, things may change and we are looking forward to the third round,” said Imada of his opening 62 with Fujita.

Singh and Randhawa who have a total of 14 Asian Tour victories between them are buoyed with confidence that they can remain in contention when the weekend rounds tees off on Saturday.

The Indians mixed seven birdies against three bogeys in the foursomes play but with the fourballs format which often presents low scoring opportunities returning, the pair is ready for the weekend challenge ahead.

“We combined really well. We left a few shots out there but that’s part of the game. We played the par-fives really well, making birdies on all of them. I think both of us are playing really well and we are looking forward to a low one tomorrow,” said Singh, who was Asia’s number one in 2008.

Randhawa, an eight-time Asian Tour winner who only arrived in China just in time for the opening round due to a delay in his visa application believes that the leaderboard will see a welcome change with India back in the mix.

“I was a little jet lagged yesterday but now I’m back to swinging the club well so we should get a low number tomorrow,” said Randhawa.

Lam and Mardan who are making their fourth World Cup appearance after winning the qualifiers in August opened with a morale-boosting birdie.

They marked their card with further birdies on the fourth and fifth holes before dropping a shot on the par-five ninth.

The Singaporeans reached the turn in 34 before returning home in 70 with another bogey on the par-five 15th.

“We were pretty good from tee to green. However, we three-putted the ninth and hit the ball into the water on the 15th. Those were the only mistakes we made today,” said Mardan.

“We just didn’t take advantage of the par-fives when those were the scoring holes but other than that we played really nicely. We’re going to try our best for sure and now that we’ve played the course and understand it a little bit better, we are looking forward to tomorrow for sure,” added Lam who remains hopeful of improving Singapore best-ever finish of tied-10th recorded by Lim Swee Wah and Lim Kian Tiong in Rome in 1984.

Home favourites China were left to rue three costly bogeys that cost them to slip three places down from an overnight tied-eighth place to tied-11th.

“Tomorrow will be the last chance for us to score as low as possible for the tournament. We will try to get as many birdies as possible for tomorrow and our strategy is basically to attack the pins whenever we can,” said Liang, Asia’s number one in 2007.

Thailand signed for a 70 to take a share of 16th place while Korea struggled to a 75 to slip to 20th place. Philippines carded a 72 for 22nd place alongside Spain and France with Chinese Taipei a further shot back in 25th place on 141.

The third day of competition at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup will revert to the fourball format, in which four balls are used and the player with the fewest shots takes the hole for their team.