HOT putter takes Uihlein to top

The 26-year-old from Orlando, a former world amateur No 1, rolled in nine birdies against a bogey on the 

12th hole to establish a one-stroke lead over Sweden’s Pelle Edberg at the par-72 7,492-yard venue.

 

“It’s always nice when that happens. You always shoot pretty good number when you putt well. I’m 

pleased, I putted well and putter is still hot which is nice. Hit some good wedges, some good iron shots. It was 

good,” said the world No 162 player, who posted two top-10 finishes - tied ninth at the Maybank Championship 

in Malaysia and tied fourth in the ISPS Handa Perth International - in his latest tournaments.

 “I birdied the first two holes [staring at the back]  and then duck-hooked into the water on the next. Sam my caddie said “man, you look so depressed.” I don’t know why I was bung this morning. I guess with the way I’ve been hitting, I was just annoyed and frustrated. After that, I just kind of free-wheeled it and have some fun,” said the one-time European Tour winner from the 2013 

Madeira Islands Open in Portugal.

 

The 36-year-old Edberg was hot on his heels, cruising through 11 holes with eight birdies before sinking his ninth of the day on the sixth hole to take the outright lead from Uihlein. But he didn’t enjoy that long as he bogeyed the next hole before ending on the ninth with one more bogey for a 65.

 

 “I hit a great drive on seven, but it’s so tight that tee shot. It’s either hitting a three-wood and taking the water on the right into play if I miss it there and a driver I would clear all the trouble. Hit a great drive and maybe a too aggressive shot,” said the Swede.

 

A stroke behind was Javi Colomo of Spain who enjoyed a bogey free day before handing his unblemished score card with a 66 for tied third along with Scott Jamieson of Scotland, also after an error free day.

 

 “It was a very good day. I played a lot better today than I have for the last few weeks. I hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens and putted very well. When I had to chip and putt for par saves I did that well too. I was really focused on my game but I am also 

very relaxed this week because I love it here at Black Mountain and Thailand in general. Everything today went well,” said the Spaniard looking to make his third cut this year from five events.

 

Veteran Parayd Marksaeng and Pariya Junhasavasdikul emerged the best local performers on the day as each  carded an error-free 67 to take the joint fifth place along with Gary Boyd and Robert Dinwiddie, Rhys Davies of Wales, Taiwanese Hsieh 

Chi-hsien, Simon Yates of Scotland, David Lipsky of the US and South African Shaun Norris.

 

 “It was a perfect day. I had five birdies without a bogey. I almost bogeyed on the ninth hole but had a good approach shot. I didn’t put myself in a bad position. This is the course I like. I always produce good results here. I tried to hold on to that good memories and summoned my best golf, “ said Pariya, who piloted his own jet to Hua Hin.

 Hometown boy Prom Meesawat, 31, carded five birdies and a lone bogey for a 68.

 “It was a good finish today, four-under-par. I’m hitting good. But I tell you what, the pins are really difficult 

on the back nine, which was my front nine. I’ve played the course many times and when the pins are tough, 

you need to know where to put your ball, which can be an advantage over here. It wasn’t too windy, and it played 

a bit easier,” said the two-time Asian Tour winner.

 

Still not fully recovered from sickness, Thai No 1 Thongchai Jaidee sank five birdies against two bogeys 

to finish with a 70.

 

“I was playing really well by hitting 16 greens. I made some easy mistakes when I shouldn’t have but three under is not so bad. I’m not 100 per cent physically but I will try to rest as much as I can and hopefully I can play better,” said the last year’s joint runner-

up, No 37 in the world.

Thai No 2 Kiradech Aphibarnrat was struggling with his  new clubs, which resulted in a disappointing 74, one behind defending champion Andre Dodt of Australia.