Ben in three-way tie for lead
Published on: Tuesday, August 04, 2015
Kuala Lumpur: Three national golfers, Danny Chia, Ben Leong and R. Nachimuthu shot an identical one-under-par 71 to share the opening round lead in the SapuraKencana National Qualifier held at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) in Bukit Kiara, here, Monday.The winner in the three-day national qualifier will earn a spot in the US$7 million CIMB Classic on Oct 29 to Nov 1."I was striking the ball a lot better today after taking a bit of a break recently. So I'm quite happy with the score. This is where you want to be after the first day and I'll be trying to stay in this position," said Chia.
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The 42-year-old Chia, who is seeking his fourth appearance in the prestigious competition, carded three birdies against two bogeys in Monday's round."Everyone is trying to win the SapuraKencana National Qualifier as there's a big reward that comes with it. I've played in the CIMB Classic on several occasions and it's a great event to be in," he added.Leong, who shot four birdies against three dropped shots, and Nachimuthu joined Chia atop the leaderboard with similar scores."I've been playing solid the last two weeks, just hitting greens and making my fair share of putts. I've finished second twice over the last two weeks, so I just need that little bit of luck to win here," said Leong, who is chasing for his first appearance at the CIMB Classic. – Bernama
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Like Leong, veteran Nachimuthu is also chasing for a first appearance at the CIMB Classic."I'm happy. I putted really well and rolled the ball good. It's a tough course as you've got to hit it straight to give yourself a chance. I've been trying to qualify for the CIMB Classic over the years but have never succeeded. I'll keep trying this week," said the 44-year-old.
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