Published July 17, 2008 on May 2, 2018

Muenlek Shoots a 68 to Get in Contention at the PGM Penang Championship

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Panuwat Muenlek of Thailand has put himself in a good position to clinch his fifth victory on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) after carding a four-under-par 68 on the weather-disrupted first round of the PGM Penang Championship on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old enjoyed a bogey-free opening round and carded four birdies to grab a share of second place. He is currently one shot behind clubhouse leader Justin De Los Santos of the United States at the RM225,000 (approximately US$58,000) event.

Five players, including Malaysian Kiishaan Tharmalingam and Singaporean Choo Tze Huang, returned with matching 69s to share fifth place at the Bukit Jawi Golf Resort.

Panuwat will match the record for the number of victories on the ADT if he tops the leaderboard at the end of the PGM Penang Championship. History is in his favour, as he won all four of his ADT titles in Malaysia.

Clubhouse leader De Los Santos, who turned professional in August last year after the U.S. Amateur Championship, shot an eagle and five birdies against two bogeys to take a one-shot lead. He credited his good round to his long and accurate drives.

“I was driving the ball pretty well and that helped me take advantage of the par-five holes. I’ve also putted pretty well, which was rewarding as I was working on my short game over the past few weeks,” said De Los Santos.

“The Hill course at Bukit Jawi Golf Resort is longer compared to other courses on the ADT. I feel comfortable with my driver, and I took advantage of it,” he added.

The first round of the PGM Penang Championship, which was suspended for the day, will resume at 7.30am on Thursday, May 3. The second round shall commence no earlier than 9 a.m. tomorrow.

 

Leading first round scores

67 – Justin DE LOS SANTOS (USA)

68 – Panuwat MUENLEK (THA), Adam BLYTH (AUS), Ratchapol JANTAVARA (THA)

69 – Kiishaan THARMALINGAM (MAS), Donlaphatchai NIYOMCHON (THA), Lee SONG (KOR), CHOO Tze Huang (SGP), Mohammad WAFIYUDDIN (MAS)

70 – Nirun SAE-UENG (THA), Hyukchul SHIN (KOR), Airil Rizman ZAHARI (MAS), Kwanchai TANNIN (THA), KOH Deng Shan (SGP), Brandon LAU Ka Kin (MAS)

71 – Sajawat SRIPRASIT (THA), Samarth DWIVEDI (IND), John Michael O’TOOLE (USA), Taewon SHIN (KOR), Naoki SEKITO (JPN)

72 – Tawan PHONGPHUN (THA), Kieran PRATT (AUS), R. Nachimuthu (MAS), Janne KASKE (FIN)

73 – S. Siva Chandhran (MAS), Divyanshu BAJAJ (IND), Johnson POH (SGP), Irfan YUSOFF (MAS), LOW Khai Jei (MAS)

74 – Chanat SAKULPOLPHAISAN (THA), Annop TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA), Thepbodin AMARANAN (THA), Reagan PNG (SGP), Jaturon DUANGPHAICHOOM (THA)

75 – Henry ONG (MAS), Muhammad Syakir ADLI AZMI (MAS), Mohd. Nazri MOHD ZAIN (MAS), Rizal AMIN (MAS), Jihoon KIM (KOR), Cody O’TOOLE (USA), Farid RASHID (MAS), Vikkash BABU (SGP), Jesse SCHUTTE (USA).