Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 23: Spain’s Elvira Nacho reclaimed his place atop the leaderboard by posting a six-under-par 66 to snatch the outright third round lead at the Maybank Championship on Saturday.

The 32-year-old had earlier taken a share of the opening round lead but slipped a spot down after carding a 72 on Friday.

The Spaniard however, responded well by compiling a three-day total of 13-under-par 203 to stay ahead of the chasing pack by two shots at the Saujana Golf and Country Club.

American David Lipsky, who finished second at the Maybank Championship in 2017, made his move by signing for a 67 to take second place on his own. Australia’s Scott Hend and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond are bunched in third place together with Maximillian Kieffer of Germany.

Hend, a nine-time Asian Tour winner, is seeking his first win since 2016 while Jazz is chasing his fourth Asian Tour victory and second in three months, as they both head into the final round, three shots back of Elvira.

Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman enjoy his best round of the week so far by carding a 68 to move inside the top-10 to take a share of ninth place that also includes South Africa’s Louis De Jager and the English pair of Andy Sullivan and Ross Fisher.

Did you know?

• David Lipsky signaled his arrival on the Asian Tour by winning the 2012 Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage.
• He subsequently went on to win the HANDA FALDO Cambodian Classic with a play-off victory over Filipino Elmer Salvador, chipping in for birdie in the first extra hole.
• He became the first Asian Tour member to win the Omega European Masters in Switzerland after defeating Graeme Storm on the first play-off hole in 2014.
• He also enjoyed four other top-10s including a second-place finish at The Championship in Singapore to cap a successful year in 2014 where he was crowned the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion.
• Lipsky’s maiden visit to South Africa last year saw him win the Alfred Dunhill Championship for his second win outside Asia.
• Scott Hend is the first Australian to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit title and the fourth player to surpass US$1 million in earnings during a season in 2016.
• The Australian was also voted as Asian Tour Players’ Player of the Year by fellow peers in 2016.
• Jazz currently leads the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings and is making his fourth start on the Asian Tour this week.
• Jazz broke into the world’s top-100 for the first time in his career after claiming his third Asian Tour title at the season-opening event in Singapore in January.
• That victory also earned him a coveted spot in The Open, where he made his Major debut last year.
• Siddikur Rahman wrote a slice of history in 2010 when he became the first player from Bangladesh to win on the Asian Tour at the Brunei Open. He went on to notch his second win on the Asian Tour at the 2013 Hero Indian Open
• The Bangladeshi became the first sportsman from his country to qualify for the Olympics on merit and was accorded the honour of becoming Bangladesh’s flagbearer during the opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.

Ends.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 22: Indonesia’s Danny Masrin remained unfazed by the prospect of going up against his more illustrious rivals as he charged up the leaderboard to trail Belgium’s Thomas Pieters by one shot in tied-second place at the Maybank Championship on Friday.

Masrin, who is playing under the ASEAN invite category this week, did not display any signs of nerve as he continued to put himself in contention at the US$3 million event with his two-day total of seven-under-par 137.

After opening with a three-under-par 69 at the Saujana Golf and Country Club, the Indonesian went one better as he traded seven birdies and a three bogeys to sign for a 68 and a share of second place with Spain’s Nacho Elvira.

Pieters, who is one half of the Belgium’s World Cup of Golf winning duo in Melbourne last November, started the day two shots off the lead in sixth place.

He suffered an early setback with a bogey on two but responded well with four birdies on holes four, 10, 13 and 16 to take his place atop the leaderboard.

American Paul Peterson made light work of the sweltering heat in Malaysia by signing for a 68 to make his move up the leaderboard and take a share of fourth place that also included Major winner Ernie Els of South Africa, Thailand’s Jazz Janaewattananond and 2014 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion David Lipsky of the United States.

Starting the day five shots off the lead, Peterson was among the early morning starters and he went off quickly by firing birdies on 11 and 18 to quickly close the gap in his opening back-nine 10.

The American, who won his only Asian Tour title in Myanmar in 2018, continued to sink even more birdies on holes one, three and five to put himself into a commanding position for the weekend rounds.

Thailand’s Prom Meesawat was also in the heat of the battle but he returned unscathed after firing a 71 to stay close to the leaders in a share of 11th place.

The weekend cut was set at even-par with 74 players making the cut.

Did you know?

• Danny Masrin is one of the five ASEAN Invites teeing up at this week’s Maybank Championship.
• The ASEAN invite is part of Maybank’s commitment and efforts to bolster regional talent and provide a platform for players to take their game further.
• The other players in ASEAN invite category include Singapore’s Johnson Poh and Jesse Yap, Myanmar’s Ye Thet Aung and Philippines’ Angelo Que,
• Masrin’s best result on the Asian Tour was a tied-12 result at the Singapore Open in 2018. He has three top 10s on the Asian Development Tour including two in 2018 (Richard Mille Brunei Championships & Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament presented by Panasonic) and one in 2016 (PGM Northport Glenmarie Championship)
• Paul Peterson made his breakthrough on the Asian Tour when he won the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open in 2018.
• Prior to that win in Myanmar, Peterson also won the D+D REAL Czech Masters on the European Tour in 2016.
• Prom Meesawat’s last victory on the Asian Tour came at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship in 2014.
• The Thai won the 20th Singha Thailand Masters on home soil earlier this month.
• His best result at a co-sanctioned event with the European Tour was a tied-third finish in Hong Kong in 2013.
• Prom also won the Junior World Golf Championships twice in 1997 (boys 11-12) and 2002 (boys 15-17). He also won Thailand Open Amateur Championship on three occasions in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

Ends.

Marcus Fraser (Aus), First round 65 (-7)
It’s been a good day. Played steady all day and putted really well. The new greens here, well they’ve done a great job. Unfortunately they lost them last year. Unbelievable to be able to turn them around in 12 months. They’ve done a great job. The greens last year, by no fault of their own, they were diseased and they lost them. Now they have rebuilt them and they are fantastic. The course played a lot different last year. It’s quite firm out there on the greens whereas last year the ball was plugging in to the greens because of the surface. It was definitely a different golf course. It was enjoyable out there, nice to see the ball bounce and even on the fairways.

If we don’t get any rain, you know maybe, but we’re in Malaysia, in the practice round the course was firm and bouncy and they have small undulating greens. With that combination you would think the scoring wouldn’t be as good. But its a great surface to putt on, not too much grain in the greens.

I’m definitely a part time golfer these days. It’s nice to go out on the golf course and it doesn’t mean as much as it used to. I think when you’ve got that mind-set it probably helps. I was more surprised than anyone going out there and shooting seven under.

I’ve been playing well having a hit at home but I haven’t played a whole lot of competitive golf. It was nice to go out and play well in a great tournament.

Jazz Janewattananond (Tha) First round 66 (-6)
I didn’t expect to play this well. Last year I didn’t play all that well here but this year it seems like the course is better, I’ve enjoyed it more and I have a bit more confidence on the greens.

The greens are so much better than last year. I think that it plays into a different game plan. You can hit it into the middle of the green and try to make putts rather than going for every green. I enjoyed it a lot more.

I don’t know what to expect. Last year it was like this as well, scoring was low and then it died off. I don’t know about this year because the greens are better. It depends on who can handle the heat more.

Angelo Que (Phi) First round 66 (-6)
I thought I was dreaming when I got to nine-under after 11 holes. But these things happen especially when you play well. You try not to think too much and get ahead of yourself by ignoring it and keep playing. But it sorts of plays on your mind too. I got unlucky on 15 where I hit the fairway but didn’t have a shot at the green as I was blocked by a tree. I got an unlucky lie and didn’t get it up and down. It was the same story on the next hole. These things happen but lucky I still managed to make 10 birdies today. So six-under is always a good score. I started off with a birdie and ended off with a birdie. So that’s nice.

Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) First round 68 (-4)
I made a lot of unforced errors today I started the round with a bogey and made a couple of other bogeys where I could have easily made pars. But I finished the round with a nice birdie on the last hole and that was pleasing. Apart from those errors, it was a decent round of golf. Asia’s home for me and I get inspired each time I come back and play in this part of the world. I’ve been quite consistent this season and giving myself opportunities over the weekend. The goal is to keep on working hard and improving every year.

Poom Saksansin (Tha) First round 68 (-4)
It was a good round. I played with Marcus Fraser and Thomas Pieters who are really good players. They make it look so easy. I’ve never made the cut in all my previous attempts here so it’ll be an achievement if I can progress to the weekend rounds.

I have some very special memories from last year. It just feels like yesterday that I won here. I made that putt on 18 and was waiting in scorers for the rest of the field to finish.  It’s great to come back, it was my biggest win.

I love the course here. I had a good finish the year before last when I finished top 10. Last year was obviously the win so special memories from last year and looking forward to this week.

I definitely feel like I’ve become a better player from last year. Obviously I have more experience. I’ve played some of the biggest events in the world, I played all of the Majors last year. It’s good that I’ve seen all of those situations.

I’m much more relaxed now, but you don’t want to get too relaxed when you are playing .These are some of the best players in the world and you have to be 100%, but I’ll definitely be more comfortable than I was last year playing in the marquee group.

The main goal especially after last year is to stay fit. When you are on the road for a large part of the year, a small injury can really affect your game.

The start of the year hasn’t been that great, to be honest. I would obviously like a better start but I’ve been working on a few things in my game. Golf is a precision sport and you got to get even the small things right. There have been a few things which has not clicked for me this year. But having said that, I’ve very good memories from this place and hopefully it can kick-start things, just like what it did for me last year.

Jazz Janewattananond (Tha)

I’m feeling really good. I had a couple of good finishes coming in to this week. It’s always nice to come back to Malaysia. I love this city, I love the sky line, I love the street food here. I’m enjoying myself out here and we’ll try to move that into the golf course as well.

I had a nine hole practice yesterday and I have to say the course has improved a lot. The greens are amazing. It’s going to be great fun playing this year.

Since I was younger and started golf I tried to crack the top 1000, the top 500, the top 100. I didn’t think it would be this soon that I would crack the top 100, but now I can have the next goal which is crack the top 50.

Everyone knows that this is the top event in Asia and everyone has to try to play well here I took a week off last week to prepare for this week, try to get my mind fresh. Restart and see if I can come in fresh here.

Nicholas Fung (Mas)

I’m always happy to play at home as I’ve many friends and supporters who will come down and watch me in action. In fact, not only myself but the other Malaysians in the field too. The locals will turn up to watch us play and it’s very motivating. I’ve been playing at Saujana Golf and Country Club on numerous conditions and I guess one big advantage is we are used to this really hot weather. I don’t want to set any goals yet but I certainly wish to do better than my best result in 2016. I just want to go out and enjoy myself this week.

Kuala Lumpur, March 20: Olle Nordberg provides his insights from the front lines ahead of the lucrative Maybank Championship, which will feature 156 players from 32 countries this week.

By Olle Nordberg, Former Asian Tour and European Tour professional 

This year’s Maybank Championship will be the fourth edition of the event and for the third year in a row it is being held at Saujana GCC’s Palm Course, also known as the Cobra, in Kuala Lumpur. As in previous years it’s co-sanctioned with European Tour and the field includes ten players ranked inside the top 100 on the OWGR rankings.

Saujana has hosted a number of tour-events through the years, and many of the players have had chance to get familiar with the Cobra’s layout and know where to attack and where to be conservative.

The last two years have offered up some spectacular Sunday scoring in the final round, with Shubhankar Sharma setting the course on fire with a ten-under-par 62 in 2018, and Fabrizio Zanotti going low with a nine-under-par 63 in 2017. Both players staged dramatic come-from-behind victories by four and six shots respectively, so playing safe for the leader on Sunday is not really an option to win.

The defending champion Sharma obviously likes this course since he also finished tied-ninth here in 2017 and will be keen to offer up a strong defence of the title which helped him secure an invitation to the Masters Tournament last season.

He will however face stiff competition from other players looking to capture one of the best-looking trophies in golf, and based on current form the players below may very well be spearheading the charge:

• Kurt Kitayama

Winner of the Oman Open on the European Tour two weeks ago, Kitayama also won the tri-sanctioned Mauritius Open in late 2018. Playing in his rookie Asian Tour season last year, he had three top 10 finishes in addition to the win: a tied-fourth at the ISPS Handa New Zealand Open, a tied-second at the Royal Cup and a tied-fourth at the Asia Pacific Diamond Cup. Ranked number 106 on the OWGR, Kitayama is known as one of the longest hitters on both the European and Asian Tours.

• Jazz Janewattananond

Coming off a fourth-place finish at his last event the 100th New Zealand Open a couple weeks ago, Jazz’s game has been on point since late last year. In his last 11 events he has finished inside the top 10 seven times, including a win at the SMBC Singapore Open, a second at the Indonesian Masters and a third at the Queen’s Cup Hosted by Jaidee Foundation. As of this week Jazz is ranked number 78 on the OWGR, and the highest-ranking Asian Tour member in the field.

• Ryan Fox

Already has a win this season at the tri-sanctioned ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth. In this mixed stroke-play and match-play format event he eliminated Jazz Janewattanaond on the third knock-out hole in the second match-play round and saw off Paul Dunne 1-up in the semi-finals, before beating Adrian Otaegui in the finals 3&2. Fox also had tied-sixth finish at the Saudi international for a second top 10 finish this year. Currently ranked number 73 on the OWGR.

Looking back to the past two editions of the Maybank Championship to see what statistics have helped players to top finishes at Saujana, there have been some mixed results. Some players have GIR’d their way to a high finish, while others have putted and scrambled their way to the top.

However, if we look at a combination of statistics categories things look clearer. A total of 14 out of 20 from the last two years top 10 finishers would rank inside the top 10 in an un-official All-Round category based on last year’s Asian Tour statistics data.

If this is any guide to success this year, the following players would very much fit the profile for a high finish based on their 2018 Asian Tour statistics records:

• Sihwan Kim (All-Round #2)

On his way to finishing seventh in the HFH Standings in 2018, Sihwan had seven top 10 finishes, including a runner-up at the Yeangder TPC, third at the co-sanctioned Hero Indian Open and a tied-third at Queen’s Cup presented by Bangchak as best results. His statistics were solid across the board, and Sihwan also ranked fifth in birdies per round with 4.10 and second in total eagles with ten made during the season.

• John Catlin (All-Round #3)

With his three wins last year on the Asian Tour in coming at the Yeangder TPC, Sarawak Championship and Asia Pacific Classic, Catlin went from graduating from the Asian Development Tour in 2017, to becoming a multiple winner on the Asian Tour in 2018. He also racked up six other top 10 finishes along the way to a sixth place in the Habitat for Humanity Standings. Catlin’s best statistics category was Scrambling where he ranked second with a percentage of 68.10%, and he was also ranked tenth in Total Driving.

• Paul Peterson (All-Round #4)

Winning early in 2018 at the Japan Tour co-sanctioned Leo Palace21 Myanmar Open, Peterson was off to a good start to the season. In addition to the win in Yangon he had two tied-11th finishes at the Maybank Championship and ISPS Handa New Zealand Open and secured a runner-up finish at the Sarawak Championship in July. His best statistics category was GIR where he ranked first on the Asian Tour with 74.53%, and he was also ranked fourth in Driving Accuracy with 75% of fairways hit off the tee.

• Gaganjeet Bullar (All-Round #5)

In a season that saw him win his maiden European Tour title at the tri-sanctioned Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways, he also finished inside the top 10 in five other events that included two runner-up finishes at the Queen’s Cup Presented by Bangchak and the GS Caltex Maekyung Open. Bhullar was ranked number three in Driving Accuracy with 76% and ranked highly in GIR where he was tenth with 71.59%. Just coming off a fifth place at last week’s Magical Kenya Open on the European Tour.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 19: India’s Shubhankar Sharma returned to the scene of his famous victory on the Asian Tour fueled with the belief that he can repeat his winning act when the Maybank Championship starts on Thursday.

The Indian closed with a stunning 10-under-par 62 to claim a two-shot victory at the Saujana Golf and Country Club last year and became the first Asian and second Asian Tour member after inaugural Australian winner (2016) Marcus Fraser to clinch the title.

Apart from a tied-second finish on his domestic circuit this year, Sharma’s results abroad have not been impressive by his lofty standards. The 22-year-old, however, vows to set the record straight especially at an event which he has been victorious before.

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond is looking forward to live up to his billing as one of the highest ranked players on the Official World Golf Ranking in the field this week.

Ranked 78th in the world, the young Thai has enjoyed a spectacular start to the season, especially with his third Asian Tour victory in Singapore at the beginning of the year. Having taken two weeks off to recharge, the 23-year-old is mentally fresh and ready for the challenge.

Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung is meanwhile hoping to better his previous best result of a tied-24th place finish which he achieved at the inaugural edition in 2016. Fung is hopeful his local knowledge of the course and weather conditions will be advantageous as he chases his second win on the Asian Tour this week.

Did you know?

• Shubhankar Sharma’s win at the Maybank Championship last year was the springboard to greater success as he went on to clinch the Asian Tour Order of Merit title that year.
• Sharma is the first Asian to win the Maybank Championship and second Asian Tour member after Fraser to clinch the title.
• Sharma’s win at the Maybank Championship saw him break into the world’s top-100 (72nd) for the first time in his career and that victory also played a key part in securing him an invitation to the Masters Tournament last year.
• It was also his second Asian Tour victory in three months. He broke through at the Joburg Open in December 2017.
• His winning total of 21-under is the lowest winning score recorded at the Maybank Championship.
• Jazz currently leads the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings and is making his fourth start on the Asian Tour this week.
• Jazz broke into the world’s top-100 for the first time in his career after claiming his third Asian Tour title at the season-opening event in Singapore in January.
• That victory also earned him a coveted spot in The Open, where he made his Major debut last year.
• He followed up that win with a tied-13th place finish at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth and went on the secure a fourth place finish at the New Zealand Open the following week.
• Nicholas Fung’s tied-24th finish at the inaugural Maybank Championship in 2016 remains as his best result. He finished tied-52nd in 2017 and missed the cut last year.
• Fung made his breakthrough at the 2017 Queen’s Cup and dedicated that victory to his father on Father’s Day that year.
• Fung had a season to remember in 2013 when he won the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit thanks to one victory and three runner-up finishes. He rose more than 1000 spots in the world rankings to 239th at the end of the 2013 season.
• Ends.

March 19: With lucrative events such as WGC’s and Majors looming, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) becomes all important. This week, we follow the Asian Tour players that are making a charge up the rankings and their quest to play their way into these events via the OWGR.

Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, currently ranked number 41 on the OWGR, is already be eligible for all the above events. Last week’s Magical Kenya Open saw a few Asian Tour members having good weeks, with Justin Harding, Ganganjeet Bhullar, S Chikkarangappa, Khalin Joshi, Johannes Veerman and John Catlin making the weekend rounds.

By Olle Nordberg, Former Asian Tour and European Tour professional

Justin Harding (Rsa)

Continuing his great play in the last 15 months, Harding shot a final round five-under-par 66 at the Magical Kenya Open in Nairobi last week to finish in joint second place, narrowly missing a play-off by one shot. He also maintained his stellar Sunday scoring average of 66, or 5.33 under-par, in 2019.

The OWGR points earned in Kenya means that Harding breaks into the top 50 in the rankings for the first time in his career and is in 48th place on this week’s updated list.

He is also now inside the magic number 50 required for an invitation to the Masters Tournament April 11-14, and if he can remain so on the deadline date March 31st, he will make his first appearance at Augusta National.

Jazz Janewattananond (Tha)

The Habitat for Humanity Standings leader did not play last week and dropped one spot on the OWGR to number 78. However, Jazz is still well positioned for a special invitation to the US PGA at Bethpage Black in New York May 16-19th, since the PGA of America will usually extend a special invitation to players inside the top 100 on the ranking list as of May 5th.
With two big events in a row coming up, this week’s Maybank Championship and next week’s Hero Indian Open, Jazz will probably need a win in one of them and a high finish in the other to qualify for the Masters via the OWGR route. Two solo seconds could possibly be enough, but this remains to be seen when the points are announced after start of the events.

Kurt Kitayama (Usa)

The recent Oman Open champion is coming off a one-week break to rest and prepare for this week’s Maybank Championship, and should be ready to continue his good play of the last few months.

By not playing last week Kitayama drops one spot on the OWGR to number 106. However he is still close to the top 100 needed for a special exemption into the US PGA Championship at Bethpage Black in New York May 16-19.

He would need two very big weeks to have a chance to qualify for the Masters Tournament by OWGR ranking, a win this week in Kuala Lumpur plus a win at next week’s Hero Indian Open may be enough to break into the world’s top 50.

Ends.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 19: Singapore’s Johnson Poh cannot wait to tee up against some of the world’s best players after receiving one of the five special invitations given out to ASEAN golfers for this week’s Maybank Championship.

The Saujana Golf and Country Club is the host venue of the US$3 million event and Poh, who claimed his maiden Asian Development Tour (ADT) title in Johor, Malaysia last year, is optimistic of a good showing here, having achieved notable results here during his prolific amateur career.

In this blog from Kuala Lumpur, Poh pens his thoughts about the week ahead and why he loves coming back to play at Saujana Golf and Country Club.

By Johnson Poh

“I’m really very excited to be teeing up in a US$3 million dollars event here in Malaysia, which is so close from home. I didn’t expected myself to get an invitation. I’m going to make the best of this opportunity.

I’m very grateful for this ASEAN invite. This is a very good opportunity for ASEAN players like myself to develop our game and prove ourselves on the world stage.

It’s always exciting to be playing in a huge event like this where the atmosphere and crowd is always a joy to watch.

I played here a couple of times as an amateur and had a couple of good results. I finished runner-up once here at the Bunga Raya course (MPI-Saujana Amateur Championship 2015).

Although I’m playing on a different course this week, I still have lots of great memories of Saujana.

I started the season well at the Singapore Open (tied-38th) and I’m looking forward to a great showing here. I just want to enjoy the tournament this week and play with no fear.”

Ends.