It is not just Thai curry that is red hot, even their golfers sizzle on the course. On the second day of the HP Asia Pacific junior golf championship on Friday, the Thai golfers extended their lead over the hosts to five strokes.
At the Eagleton golf course, the Thais went five-under while the home team put together even par scores. Credit for Thailand’s dominance should go to Poom Saksansin, who shot a four-under 68. Poom was well supported by Rattanon Wannasrichan (2-under) and Pariwat Pinsawat (even-par). Chinese Taipei are placed third.
In the girls’ team event, Chinese Taipei hold a slender one-stroke advantage over Thailand with India at third.
But the day clearly belonged to Chinese Taipei’s Teng Kao, who playing in the individual category, carded a commendable eight-under 64. Kao was in top flight as he notched up four birdies on the first four holes. He finished his round with seven birdies and an eagle.
Kao’s feat took him to the top of the leader board, ahead of home favourite Chikkarangappa who returned a card of four-under 68 to stay a stroke behind Kao.
Another Indian youngster who impressed on the day was Kapurthala lad Ashbeer Saini, who too matched Chi-kka’s card. Honey Baisoya was third best for the hosts.
In Category C (11-12 years), the Indians were on cruise mode as they grabbed the top three spots. Piyush Sangwan lead the charge followed by Prakhar Asawa and Viraj Madappa.
Leading team scores
(After144 holes).
Boys: 427(-5): Thailand; 432(E): India; 436(+4): Chinese Taipei; 462(+30): Philippines; 490(+58): Hong Kong.
Girls: 291(+3): Chinese Taipei; 292(+4): Thailand; 296(+8): India; 298(+10): Singapore; 304(+16): Philippines.
Leading individual scores: Category A&B: Boys: 133: Teng Kao (69,64) (Taipei) 134: Chikkarangappa (66,68) (Ind); 136: Poom Saksansin (68,68) (Thai); 141: Ashbeer Saini (73,68) (Ind) 142: Wei-Hou Liu (70,72) (Taipei); Girls: 145: Jo-Ee Kok (70,75) (S’pore); Pavarisa Yoktuan (76,69) (Thai); 146: Wei-Ling Hsu (71,75) (Taipei); 147: Hsuan-Yu
Yao (72,75) (Taipei), Princess Mary Superal (73,74) (Phi), Andrea Unson (76,71) (Phi).
Category B: Boys: 146: Sung-I Yu (74,72) (Taipei); 149: Nattawat Suvajanakorn (75,74) (Thai), Pariwat Pinsawat (77,72) (Thai); 152: Marc Ong (78,74) (S’pore); 154: Shubhankar Sharma (77,77)- (Ind).
Girls: 147: Princess Mary Superal (73,74) (Phi) 148: Pinrath Loomboonruang (75,73) (Thai); 154: Mimi Ho (76,78) (HK); Gurbani Singh (83,71) ( Ind); 158: Ssu-Chia Cheng (81,77) (Taipei).
Category C: Boys: 147: Piyush Sangwan (72,75) (Ind); 152: Prakhar Asawa (78,74) (Ind); 154: Viraj Madappa (76,78) (Ind); 155: Pawat Kongkanjana (75,80) (Thai); 156: Feroz Garewal (77,79) (Ind).
Girls: 151: Benyapa Niphatsophon (75,76) (Thai); 156: Aditi Ashok (80,76) (Ind); 169: Ridhima Dilawari (89,80) ( Ind); 172: Seher Atwal (90,82) (Ind); 177: Amrita Anand (88,89) (Ind).
Category D: Boys: 142: Puwit Anupansuebsai (71,71) (Thai); 168: Karandeep Kochar (82,86) (Ind); 171: Kshitij Kaul (84,87) (Ind); 186: Aadil Bedi (91,95) (Ind); 187: Pratheek Nagaprasad (92,95) ( Ind); Girls: 171: Chakansim Khamborn (87,84) (Ind); 209: Tanirika Singh (101,108) (Ind); 211: Shruthi Shenoy (104,107) (Ind); 224: Karishma Dutt (104,120) (Ind).