Singapore's Koh remains upbeat
Despite double-bogey on the 13th, he stays in touch as Taiwanese Lin takes lead
Despite an unlucky double-bogey on the 13th hole yesterday, Singapore's Koh Dengshan is having his best start on the Asian Tour since he turned pro four years ago.
And the affable Singaporean, who adopts a good work ethic like his mentor Mardan Mamat, is staring at a top-10 finish in the inaugural US$1.5 million ($2.1m) Ho Tram Open in Vietnam.
From joint-18th on Thursday in a stellar cast of worldwide golfers, Koh has moved up to joint-seventh on five under with two holes remaining in his second round.
Strong gusts in the afternoon, which reached up to 40 kilometres per hour and moved golf balls on the greens, forced officials to suspend play for two hours.
And it was when play resumed that Koh soiled an otherwise impeccable card of three birdies and regulation play.
Remaining upbeat, Koh said: "I played the par-threes well. I knew the back nine would be tough, especially when the wind was up.
"I was playing well before the suspension, but I'm looking at it at the positive side because the wind didn't blow as strong as earlier.
"I got a little bit careless when I double-bogeyed the 13th hole. I hit my tee shot thin and the ball went into the bushes.
"I had to go back to the tee-box and play my drive, but it was good that I then played the par-four to 'regulation'.
MISTAKE
"It was just one mistake I made all day, so I'll accept that. My back felt a bit better. It was a bit stiff on the first few holes, so my caddie is still helping me collect the ball from the cup."
Koh, 26, will be among 58 players who will return at 6.30am to complete the remaining holes.
Meanwhile, a rock-steady Lin Wen-tang of Taiwan fired a four-under 67 to grab the second-round clubhouse lead.
Lin, a six-time Asian Tour winner, overcame a wind-swept day at The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip by shooting six birdies against two bogeys for a two-day aggregate of 10-under 132 in the richest full-field Asian Tour event.
American David Lipsky, the reigning Order of Merit champion, was two shots back in second place after negotiating 11 holes in two under, before play was suspended at 5.35pm due to darkness.
World No. 12 Sergio Garcia, who was two under through 12 holes, lies three back of Lin alongside Thai veteran star Thaworn Wiratchant, who was even par through 13 holes.
India's Himmat Rai shared third place with them after returning a fine 69 for a 135 total.
Overnight leader Charlie Wi of South Korea, who opened with a course-record 62, was five over through 13 holes of his second round, falling to four under for the tournament.
LEADERBOARD
(COMPLETED SCORES)
132: Lin Wen-tang 65-67.
135: Himmat Rai 66-69.
136: Paul Peterson 66-70.
138: Sam Cyr 69-69, Terry Pilkaradis 71-67.
139: Andrew Raitt 73-66, Simon Yates 73-66, Geoff Ogilvy 69-70.
140: Kalle Samooja 68-72, Masahiro Kawamura 72-68, Prom Meesawat 69-71, Anthony Kang 71-69, Akinori Tani 71-69, Adilson da Silva 69-71.
Selected 141: Mardan Mamat 72-69.
Withdrawn: Lam Chih Bing.
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