Duangdecha's day at Thailand Open
Chon Buri, 27 August 2010: Thailand’s Udorn Duangdecha shot a sensational 12-under-par 60 to take the halfway lead in the US$1 million Thailand Open on OneAsia today.
The 39-year-old, who has become famous for wearing flamboyant golf gear, moved to 12-under-par 132 for the tournament and a one stroke lead over Australian Matthew Griffin.
Griffin returned a 65, while Chinese number one Liang Wenchong is a stroke further back after carding a 67.
Unfortunately Udorn’s remarkable round could not stand as a record as preferred lies were played.
It was a bogey free round which saw him start on the tenth and make the turn in five-under-par 31. He then tore apart the next nine in 29 shots. He made six birdies in a row starting on the 18th before crossing over to continue his birdie spree.
The man from Chiang Mai, who has been a professional for nearly 20 years, won the Singha Pattaya Open on the Mercedes-Benz Tour here at Burapha in April.
He has played on the course many times in local events and has rarely had a bad round.
“I love this course because it keeps making me a lot of money,” joked Udorn.
After the round there was more of a confident air about him rather than one of surprise.
“Everything went to plan today. In the first round I tried too hard. I told myself to relax and it all came together. I was not nervous at all. I knew what I had to do,” he added.
Nine of his birdie putts were from inside 12 feet. The other birdies came from a chip in, and one long putt from 40 feet.
Griffin, ranked the number three amateur in the world before turning professional in 2008, also did not drop a shot as he bid for his first big breakthrough win.
“I played really well and kept the ball in place nicely. I have been putting myself into good positions in tournaments for a while but have not been able to finish off the job. I am trying to learn to relax more and that’s my plan for the weekend. It will take good attacking golf and low scores to win this,” said Griffin.
Liang, a two-time winner on OneAsia, started the day in the joint lead and appeared to be forging ahead after making three birdies on the trot from the second.
However a level par back nine saw him lose ground slightly.
Said the 32-year-old Liang: “I missed some birdie chances which was disappointing and dropped shots at the fifth and 11th. Overall I am quite happy with my play and I am only a couple of shots behind. I have to work out the key to scoring well on the back nine around here. Over the two days I have had 11 birdies on the front nine but just two on the back nine.”
Thailand’s Namchok Tantipokhakul and Australians Terry Pilkadaris and Brad Kennedy are joint fourth three off the lead. They shot rounds of 66, 63 and 67 respectively.
Namchok won last year’s Mercedes-Benz Tour Order of Merit title after two victories and is continuing to make a name for himself. He eagled the par five-10th, which was his opening hole.
“I have been playing well this year and I am confident with my game – I think I have a chance of winning. Every Thai player wants to win the King’s Trophy (awarded to the winner of the Thailand Open). To win this week would make me very proud,” said Namchok.
The halfway cut was made at level par 144.
Malaysian number one Danny Chia carded a 68 and is six under for the tournament.
New Zealand’s Michael Hendry, winner of the Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta, fired a 70 and is four under.
Thaworn Wiratchant from Thailand, Singaporean Mardan Mamat, and Japan’s Shingo Katayama are a shot back.
The week's event will be showcased on OneAsia's television platform with live coverage for four hours a day across all four tournament days, and broadcast to over 260 million homes in more than 40 countries.
Full coverage of the event will be available across South East Asian and domestically on ESPN Star Sports, as well as internationally on Network Ten, Jupiter Golf Network, SBS Golf Channel, Fox International, Sky Sports NZ, ESPN3 & America One in the USA, ViaSat & Bloomberg Television among others in Europe.
This year’s Thailand Open is being co-sponsored by Singha Corporation, PTT Public Company Limited, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Emirates, and CAT Telecom Public Company Limited.
Leading second round scores:
Par 72
Thai unless stated
132 – Udorn Duangdecha 72 60
133 – Matthew Griffin (AUS) 68 65
134 – Liang Wenchong (CHN) 67 67
135 – Namchok Tantipokhakul 69 66, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 72 63, Brad Kennedy (AUS) 68 67
136 – Andre Stolz (AUS) 67 69, Stephen Allan (AUS) 70 66, Michael Wright (AUS) 70 66, Pijit Petchkasem 69 67
137 - Pariya Junhasavasdikul 67 70
138 – Neven Basic (AUS) 70 68, Danny Chia (MAS) 70 68
- ENDS -
About OneAsia
OneAsia is a non-profit organisation developed to maximize elite tournament opportunities in Asia-Pacific. The Founding members of OneAsia are the China Golf Association, the Korea Golf Tour, the Korea Golf Association and the PGA of Australia. The mission of OneAsia is not just to allow the region’s best players to gain access to more events, but to ultimately provide them with an alternative pathway to the PGA Tour and the European Tour, thus retaining the best golfing talent in the region without compromising their development.
For more information, please contact:
Janice Lee Fang
PR & Media Manager - OneAsia
Mobile: +65 8268 8155
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Simon Wilson
Media Manager - World Sport Group
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Local Udorn blazes his way with 12-underChon Buri, 27 August 2010: Thailand’s Udorn Duangdecha shot a sensational 12-under-par 60 to take the halfway lead in the US$1 million Thailand Open on OneAsia today.
The 39-year-old, who has become famous for wearing flamboyant golf gear, moved to 12-under-par 132 for the tournament and a one stroke lead over Australian Matthew Griffin.
Griffin returned a 65, while Chinese number one Liang Wenchong is a stroke further back after carding a 67.
Unfortunately Udorn’s remarkable round could not stand as a record as preferred lies were played.
It was a bogey free round which saw him start on the tenth and make the turn in five-under-par 31. He then tore apart the next nine in 29 shots. He made six birdies in a row starting on the 18th before crossing over to continue his birdie spree.
The man from Chiang Mai, who has been a professional for nearly 20 years, won the Singha Pattaya Open on the Mercedes-Benz Tour here at Burapha in April.
He has played on the course many times in local events and has rarely had a bad round.
“I love this course because it keeps making me a lot of money,” joked Udorn.
After the round there was more of a confident air about him rather than one of surprise.
"Everything went to plan today. In the first round I tried too hard. I told myself to relax and it all came together. I was not nervous at all. I knew what I had to do,” he added.
Nine of his birdie putts were from inside 12 feet. The other birdies came from a chip in, and one long putt from 40 feet.Griffin, ranked the number three amateur in the world before turning professional in 2008, also did not drop a shot as he bid for his first big breakthrough win.
“I played really well and kept the ball in place nicely. I have been putting myself into good positions in tournaments for a while but have not been able to finish off the job. I am trying to learn to relax more and that’s my plan for the weekend. It will take good attacking golf and low scores to win this,” said Griffin.
Liang, a two-time winner on OneAsia, started the day in the joint lead and appeared to be forging ahead after making three birdies on the trot from the second.
However a level par back nine saw him lose ground slightly.
Said the 32-year-old Liang: “I missed some birdie chances which was disappointing and dropped shots at the fifth and 11th. Overall I am quite happy with my play and I am only a couple of shots behind. I have to work out the key to scoring well on the back nine around here. Over the two days I have had 11 birdies on the front nine but just two on the back nine.”
Thailand’s Namchok Tantipokhakul and Australians Terry Pilkadaris and Brad Kennedy are joint fourth three off the lead. They shot rounds of 66, 63 and 67 respectively.
Namchok won last year’s Mercedes-Benz Tour Order of Merit title after two victories and is continuing to make a name for himself.
He eagled the par five-10th, which was his opening hole.
“I have been playing well this year and I am confident with my game – I think I have a chance of winning. Every Thai player wants to win the King’s Trophy (awarded to the winner of the Thailand Open). To win this week would make me very proud,” said Namchok.
The halfway cut was made at level par 144.
Malaysian number one Danny Chia carded a 68 and is six under for the tournament.
New Zealand’s Michael Hendry, winner of the Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta, fired a 70 and is four under.
Thaworn Wiratchant from Thailand, Singaporean Mardan Mamat, and Japan’s Shingo Katayama are a shot back.
The week's event will be showcased on OneAsia's television platform with live coverage for four hours a day across all four tournament days, and broadcast to over 260 million homes in more than 40 countries.
Full coverage of the event will be available across South East Asian and domestically on ESPN Star Sports, as well as internationally on Network Ten, Jupiter Golf Network, SBS Golf Channel, Fox International, Sky Sports NZ, ESPN3 & America One in the USA, ViaSat & Bloomberg Television among others in Europe.
This year’s Thailand Open is being co-sponsored by Singha Corporation, PTT Public Company Limited, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Emirates, and CAT Telecom Public Company Limited.
Leading second round scores:
Par 72
Thai unless stated
132 – Udorn Duangdecha 72 60
133 – Matthew Griffin (AUS) 68 65
134 – Liang Wenchong (CHN) 67 67
135 – Namchok Tantipokhakul 69 66, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 72 63, Brad Kennedy (AUS) 68 67
136 – Andre Stolz (AUS) 67 69, Stephen Allan (AUS) 70 66, Michael Wright (AUS) 70 66, Pijit Petchkasem 69 67
137 - Pariya Junhasavasdikul 67 70
138 – Neven Basic (AUS) 70 68, Danny Chia (MAS) 70 68
- ENDS -
About OneAsia
OneAsia is a non-profit organisation developed to maximize elite tournament opportunities in Asia-Pacific. The Founding members of OneAsia are the China Golf Association, the Korea Golf Tour, the Korea Golf Association and the PGA of Australia. The mission of OneAsia is not just to allow the region’s best players to gain access to more events, but to ultimately provide them with an alternative pathway to the PGA Tour and the European Tour, thus retaining the best golfing talent in the region without compromising their development.
