Veteran campaigner Danny Chia produced a remarkable comeback to take a one-shot lead heading into tomorrow’s final round of the Corolla Cup after starting the second round with a triple bogey at the Royal Perak Golf Club here today.
The 51-year-old, second overnight to S. Siva Chandhran after carding a four-under 68, hit a tree with his tee shot on the first hole but couldn’t recover and ended up with an eight on the par 5. “I made a bad decision and paid the price,” said Chia.
But just when local pro Shanizam Mohagi was making waves with an impressive 66 to be the clubhouse leader at eight-under, Chia came storming home and reeled in eight birdies to card a five-under 67 and finish at 135, one better than Shanizam.
Lying joint third on 139 were Sukree Othman (66) and Fakhrul Akmal (68). Sukree, who moved up 15 places, will join Shanizam and Chia in tomorrow’s final group that tees off at 9.25am. Both Shanizam and Sukree started their golf careers as caddies at RPGC.
The Corolla Cup is the fifth leg of the Toyota Tour presented by UMW Toyota Motor with MST Golf Group the Delivery Agency and managed by the PGM.
Chia, who won the Toyota Tour’s season-opener – the Tun Ahmad Sarji Trophy at Saujana in March, relied on his experience to not let that ugly 8 get the better of him. “It happens during a round. You just have to keep to your game plan and give yourself birdie chances which is what I did.
“I couldn’t have played a better round than this, considering the poor start on the first hole. I’m happy with the progress I’m making and definitely pleased with the position I am in right now. Generally, my game has been great, especially on the greens,” added Chia.
Shanizam, who admitted to having an advantage with his intimate knowledge of the course surprised many with his bogey-free round. “This is my first event on the Toyota Tour and in fact, my first professional tournament since 2016. Family and work commitments prevented me from playing competitively.”
The RPGC golf manager and head coach was overjoyed with his game and in fact missed eight putts for birdie. The longest putt he made for birdie today was from 30 feet. “I want to start playing more tournaments and I aim to play the rest of the season. The Toyota Tour is perhaps the best thing to happen to professional golf in Malaysia.”
Overnight leader Siva Chandhran couldn’t buy a birdie at all and instead registered four bogeys for a 76. He’s now at -2 and seven strokes behind the leader. “I just couldn’t get it going today … that’s golf.”
The amateur contest looks to be a two-horse race between Marcus Lim and Rezq Adam Rohizam. Marcus, the recent TSM Golf Challenge champion, shot a 71 to his 69 yesterday for a four-under 140, sharing joint fifth place with veteran Airil Rizman and Kemarol Baharin. Rizq added a 71 to his 70 yesterday and is a further stroke behind.
Aretha Pan and amateur Winnie Ng scored identical 69s to end up at two-under 142 to lead the Ladies Championship by two strokes over another amateur Ng Jing Xuen, while Jocelyn Chee, who won the Ladies title in last month’s Vios Cup, is a stroke further back after a 71 today.
The third and final round of the Corolla Cup will take place tomorrow.
Leading Scores
(Men)
135 Danny Chia (68-65)
136 Shanizam Mohagi (70-66)
139 Sukree Othman (73-66), Fakhrul Akmal (71-68)
140 Airil Rizman (69-71), Marcus Lim (am 69-71), Kemarol Baharin (71-69)
141 Rizq Adam Rohizam (am 70-71)
142 S Siva Chandhran (66-76)
143 Nicholas Fung (73-70), Chan Soo Keong (72-71), Kim Leun Kwang (70-73)
(Ladies)
142 Aretha Pan (73-69), Winnie Ng (am 73-69)
144 Ng Jing Xuen (am 73-71)
145 Jocelyn Chee (74-71)
147 Nur Afifah Razif (am 76-71)
148 Geraldine Wong (72-76)