Chia Takes Charge with Strong Finish at CIMB National Championship

Player Quotes

Danny Chia Second Round 70 (-2), 138 (-6)

It was almost the same as yesterday, just missing a few putts. I can’t seem to read the lines this week. I missed a few on the lip and at other times I’m seeing the opposite lines. They are really subtle changes, left inside becomes right inside lines. I also hit a lot of good shots and wasn’t rewarded for them. Hit some good shots on the par fives but had some bad bounces. However, I’m still very happy as in my last five holes, I made four birdies to sign for a 70.

On my fifth hole, I blocked my drive way right onto the next fairway but fortunately I had a line to the green and I took the chance by hitting a good hybrid onto the green and two putted for the birdie. Parred the next hole after missing another birdie putt from eight feet but I managed to read the lines correctly in the last three holes, holing some eight footers on seven and eight and then hitting it really close on nine.

It was really frustrating at the start of the day and it affected my game. I just told myself to stay patient. You can’t control what the leaders will shoot and you just want to save as many shots as you can when you are not playing well.

The birdie on five certainly lifted my spirits, especially when it was a bad drive and I got a break with a clear line to the green. It was probably the best shot of the day where I hit a hybrid from about 230 meters and with water to negotiate as well. I committed to the shot and my game picked up from there.

Mohd Sukree Othman, Second Round 69 (-3), Total 139 (-5)

It was kind of on-off for me today. On some greens, I made some good putts but I missed a few short putts as well, including one three putt. Hit it close on the first hole to two feet and then made a seven footer for birdie on the eighth hole. I then holed a 15-footer for birdie on nine. Hit it close to one foot on 17 and then closed out the round with a six-foot birdie on 18.

I’m happy with my position going into the last two rounds. It’s an important week as the winner gets into the CIMB Classic. I’ve tried to qualify previously but I haven’t come as close as this week. I’ll keep trying hard. With this tournament being played over four days, I’ll have a better chance. I think I’ll need to aim for some low rounds over the next two days to give myself a chance.

I’ve watched the CIMB Classic at TPC KL in the past although I wasn’t in the field. You can really see the standard of play on the PGA TOUR is different but I’m certainly hoping to get a chance to play in the event this year.

Ben Leong, Second Round 76 (+4), Total 141 (-3)

I didn’t have any birdies on the card today. Didn’t hit it that great, just a tough day. The wind was a bit more swirly. I guess that’s golf. Try to learn from this and two more days to go. I’ll try to find something positive for the next two days.

I am just going to focus on my own game and not get too worried about the other scores. Try to hit it to where I want to hit it and make some putts. Maybe there were some lapses in concentration as well today. I made some good par putts but I missed some too. It was just tough round for me.

Gavin Green, Second Round 70 (-2), Total 142 (-2)

I think I hit it pretty much the same as yesterday but some putts did drop for me today. I had some hiccups coming in, had a bad lie on 14 and chunked it into the water for double bogey and on 16, I hit a one iron pin high right but chunked it into the bunker and didn’t hit good to make bogey. Those were the two shots which I left out there. Just unfortunate with the lie and I wasn’t committed with the shot on 16.

I’m four back but four shots here can swing really quickly. I still have a score in mind, what I have to shoot I think to do it. I hope the wind picks up a bit more as you can tell when the winds are up, the scores are not low. I like to play in the wind and tough weather. The game plan is good, just need to execute it and hope for the putting to come along.