June 20th 2013, Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia: Thailand’s Pariya Junhasavasdikul rediscovered some of his best form to storm into the first round lead with a five-under-par 66 at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters on Thursday.
The 28-year-old, who won his first Asian Tour title in 2010, snared eight birdies against one bogey and a double bogey at a sun baked Seri Selangor Golf Club to lead by one from Korea’s Baek Seuk-hyun in the RM1.2 million (approximately US$400,000) tournament.
Talented Malaysian amateur Gavin Green continued to show his promise with a measured 68 for joint third place alongside six-time Asian Tour winner Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei and Australian duo Wade Ormsby and Adam Groom.
Pariya has not hit top form in 2013 but his game clicked at Seri Selangor, which is playing hard and fast due to the dry conditions. After turning in 31, he dropped a double bogey on the par-three third hole but bounced straight back with three consecutive birdies.
“Everything just went my way. I was hitting it really straight on my front nine and everything clicked. When I went to the back nine, I stumbled on the third hole but I recovered really good with three birdies,” said Pariya, who is a licensed pilot.
“The game is good and I’m staying positive. I played in Koh Samui last week (Queen’s Cup) and that course makes this golf course look like a wide open course. You got to be patient here because the course will give you birdies and you need to hold on to that,” he added.
The 22-year-old Baek, who is currently sixth on the Order of Merit, made full use of a golf tip from Thailand’s Chawalit Plaphol. The Thai-based Korean, who has two-top five results this season, is aiming to win his first Asian Tour title on the region’s premier Tour which is celebrating its 10th season.
“At the Queen’s Cup, my weight during impact was more to the right side. I tried to change it a bit more to the left so my downswing will be more pure. Chawalit told me this last week and I’ve been practising it,” said Baek.
After ending a four-year title drought at the Solaire Open in Manila earlier this season, Lin believes he is now back to his best form after several lukewarm seasons due to injuries. He signed off his round in style by chipping in for birdie on the 18th hole.
“I putted well, took only 27 putts,” said Lin. “You need to be mentally strong on this course as it’s a difficult course. The greens are very firm and it’s difficult to control the ball. That’s why I think you need to chip and putt well this week which is very important.
“Since winning in the Philippines, my game is really coming back. I won a matchplay tournament in Taipei last month so my game is feeling really good, especially with my chipping.”
The 19-year-old Green, who is seeking a strong showing this week to boost his chances of qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Championship, missed numerous putts as he hung around the leaders.
“I was burning a lot of lips. I hit a lot of good putts but none of them dropped for me. I was rolling it good but a couple of important putts went in and that’s good enough. I kept the ball in play. I didn’t do any crazy shots. I was very patient out there. I was trying to go ahead in the last couple of holes but I knew I had to stay calm,” said Green.
