Poom blooms in Samui

Thai young-gun Poom Saksansin held on to his lead after he fired a bogey-free 67 through the midway stage of the US$300,000 Queen’s Cup Bangkok Airways-SAT Samui Golf Tournament at the Santiburi Samui Country Club yesterday.

After a steady performance in the first eight holes, the Thursday leader generated his first birdie yesterday on the 18th, followed by three more on the third, fourth and eighth holes, which kept him glued to the top of the leader board with a total nine under-par 133.

“I couldn’t read the lines at the beginning and wondered when birdies would come. But when I started hitting birdies, I became more confident and they kept coming” said the 21-year-old Poom, who has been through 36 holes without a bogey. This is his first experience as leader for two days on the Asian Tour.

“I will not try to think about winning as this is a very tough course and things can turn around through just one bad drive. I’m happy to be in this position and hopefully I can cope with the circumstances,” said the Chanthaburi-born golfer, who admired his hometown hero Chinnarat Phadungsil, a 2009 champion here.

Two strokes off the lead was Baek Seuk-hyun of South Korea who fired eight birdies against three bogeys for a 66 and a halfway total of seven-under-par 135. 

“Actually I didn’t drive the ball well. I just chipped and putted well and that’s how I came up with good scores today,” said the 23-year-old Korean who has been living in Thailand since 2005 with his family, which runs a business here.

Baek despite his lead in the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters in April had to settle for second after he went down to Anirban Lahiri of India by one stroke, a loss that lingered in his memory.

“In the past, I aimed high but came up short in the end. It hurts. But my goal is to win my first Asian Tour title by the end of the year,” said Baek who admitted he craved for chicken basil every time he was away from Thailand. 

Unfancied Donlaphatchai Niyomchon carded a back-to-back 68 for a total six-under-par 136 to take the lone third.

“Everything was well except on the 10th hole as I drove my shot into threes. But I played well, especially on par-three holes as I hit three birdies,” said Donlaphatchai, who did not consider himself the favourite to win the title on the island.

“I don’t think I’m good enough on this course where everything can change at any moment. I used to hope high when I was playing so well in 2012 but after I qualified for the Asian Tour in 2013, I had poor results now matter how hard I practised. So I stopped expecting from myself and somehow I start playing well in Rayong [local event] and here,” said the Chonburi native.

Chinnarat carded a second-round 70 for an overall 138 to seize the fourth spot along with Bangladesh Siddikur Rahman, the latter also after a 70. 

Veteran Thaworn Wiratchant, a champion in 2012, shot a 68 and a total 139 for a tied sixth with Indonesian Choo Tze Huang and Chapchai Nirat.

Current Order of Merit leader Anirban Lahiri of India fought back with a 68 for a 143 total. 

TrueSport 5 will beam live the event today from 1pm onwards.