Durairaj soars with pair of eagles
Snaring two eagles, Malaysian A. Durairaj soared to the top of the leaderboard after yesterday's second round of the Hong Kong Open amateur championship at Discovery Bay.
Overlooked by his country for last week's Asia-Pacific amateur team championships for the Nomura Cup at Fanling, Durairaj spectacularly staked his claim for a future international call-up.
At the par-five fourth hole, Durairaj rolled home a 20-foot putt after reaching the putting surface in two. If that eagle was impressive, his next party trick at the downhill, par-four ninth was even more remarkable.
Following a perfect drive, the Malaysian was left with barely 100 yards to the green. Striking his sand wedge approach majestically, his ball trickled into the cup for a two.
Although he was three over for the four holes in between, courtesy of those two eagles he reached the turn in one-under 35. Despite a birdie-less back nine, Durairaj returned a 73 for an aggregate of 144 to open up a two-shot advantage.
His closest pursuer is Taiwan's Kao Bao-song, joint first-round leader. Kao, at 26 the senior member of last week's victorious Taiwanese team, carded a 75 yesterday.
Perhaps it's another Taiwanese, Su Chin-jung, who poses the greatest threat to Durairaj, though. Su, second individually in the Nomura Cup, made a birdie at the last for a 73 which enabled him to share third place on 149 with Indian Shiraj Kalra, whose 72 was best score of the day.
Hong Kong's Alec Pettigrew continues to lead the home challenge following a gutsy 79. Having dropped seven shots on the first eight holes, he completed the remaining 10 in even-par.
'I didn't play those first eight holes too badly,' said Pettigrew. 'I wasn't hitting bad shots, but I was either one club too short or half-a-club too long on my approaches.'
