KUCHING: Malaysia’s Ben Leong rose from his sick bed to grab a share of the opening round lead after firing a flawless eight-underpar 64 on a low scoring day at the US$300,000 Sarawak Championship on Thursday. Leong, who was down with a fever on Tuesday night, recovered just in time to post a commendable round highlighted by one eagle and six birdies, matching the day’s efforts of Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao and Justin Quiban of the Philippines at the Damai Golf and Country Club.
Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand reeled in six birdies in-a-row en route to his opening 65, which placed him in fourth place alongside Japan’s Daisuke Kataoka and Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines.
Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng produced the shot of the day when his five-iron tee shot found the bottom of the cup on the par-three 14th hole from 202 yards. It was the 14th ace he has recorded in his illustrious career. The 53-year-old Prayad signed for an eventual 68 to tie in 30th position alongside a host of players including Australian Scott Hend, who turned 46 years old yesterday, at the full-field event, which is celebrating its second edition on the Asian Tour this week. The Sarawak Championship is supported by the Sarawak government. It is also the Tour’s second stop in Malaysia this season.
Ben Leong is a one-time winner on the Asian Tour. He remains as the only Malaysian player to win an Asian Tour event on home soil when he triumphed at the 2008 Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters. Leong missed only one green and four fairways in his commendable round of 64, where he navigated his way around the greens in only 28 putts. Leong suffered a disc prolapse in 2012 but has shown signs of returning to his best form in the last few years.
He is a two-time winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) and he has claimed two top-10s on the Asian Tour in 2018. Last November, Leong also represented Malaysia alongside Gavin Green in the ISPS Handa Melbourne World Cup of Golf. The duo enjoyed a dream start after signing for an opening nine under-par 63 to trail by one shot in the first round’s fourball format. Leong, however, has struggled to find form in 2019 as he made only two cuts in six starts.
He sits in 97th place on the Order of Merit. Hung Chien-yao of Taiwanmissed two cuts in six starts this season. His best result is a tied-34th place finish at the season-opening SMBC Singapore Open and he sits in 64th place on the current Order of Merit. The 27-year-old Hung finished tied-20th at the Sarawak Championship last year. He missed only two greens and one fairway in his solid round of 64 where he amassed 26 putts. Hung has yet to win on the Asian Tour but has one Asian Development Tour (ADT) title which he won on home soil in 2013.
