Too Close To Call at Volvo Masters of Asia
12/21/2008
As the 2008 Volvo Masters of Asia reaches the business end of the tournament and the Asian Tour stars look forward to a welcome break, there is hard cash and ranking points still up for grabs and, with 19 players all within five of the lead, it’s just too close to call.
With 19 players within five shots of the lead and another half-dozen just a single shot back, it would take a brave pundit to pick the winner of the 2008 Volvo Masters of Asia.
Catching the eye early in the day is the all-Malaysian pairing of Ben Leong and Danny Chia, Leong on five-over-par, his compatriot two shots better off, the duo teeing-off at 08.02am.
The next twoball looks attractive also, the experienced and big-hitting Australian Scott Hend paired with teenage sensation Ye Jian-Feng, the amateur from China who sits on three-over-par, the same total as his compatriot and idol Zhang Lian Wei.
Ye and Hend go out at 08.11am, followed by Zhang and his playing partner, Darren Beck from Australia at 08.20am, and a fascinating young versus old match-up following at 09.09am in the shape of Taiwanese veteran Wang Ter-Chang and the teenage sensation from Korea, No Seung-Yul.
09.36am sees Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Jeev Milkha Singh go out with Filipino Angelo Que, followed by pre-tournament favourite Thongchai Jaidee alongside South African Hendrik Buhrmann at 09.45am.
The 10.21 tee-off looks like a fascinating match involving young Welshman Rhys Davies and New Zealander Mark Brown, as does the all-Indian affair involving Gaganjeet Bhullar and 2004 Volvo Masters of Asia, Jyoti Randhawa.
Randhawa on four-under-par probably represents the lower level from where the champion might emerge but a shot better off is the defending champion Prayad Marksaeng as is his playing partner Simon Griffiths of England, the pair teeing-it –up at 11.10am.
2005 Volvo Masters of Asia winner Shiv Kapur has crept slowly into contention on five-under whilst the Indian’s playing partner Lin Wen-Tang is going for a third victory of the season. The pair head out at 11.28am.
The all-Australian match involving Adam Blyth on six-under and his countryman Rick Kulacz who is a shot better off will see no quarter asked or given once they go out at 11.37am, whilst the unheralded Filipino Antonio Lascuna is paired with the halfway leader Lam Chi-Bing from Singapore, off at 11.46am.
Local heroes Chapchai Nirat and Chawalit Plaphol are split into the penultimate and final groups respectively, Nirat paired with the consistent Marcus Both of Australia, out at 11.55am before the final pairing sees record-equalling David Gleeson heads out last with Thailand’s Chawalit.
All to play for, but too close to call, and the grand finale of the 2008 Volvo Masters of Asia looks like going right down to the wire.
Spectators wishing to come along to the final day’s play are welcome, it’s free-of-charge, whilst armchair fans can catch the action live on TV, on ESPN Star from 12.00noon – 4pm, Bangkok time.
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