SERI KEMBANGAN – “Moving day” at the US$1 million (RM4.7 million) Malaysian Open was not a good one as all three Malaysians left in the field faltered in the sweltering heat at the Mines Resort and Golf Club today.
Overnight joint leader V. Khavish Varman registered a third-round score of one over par 72 which included three bogeys on the 5th, 14th and 16th holes. However, he managed two birdies on the 10th and 15th holes.
He dropped to 14th on the overall leaderboard tied with fellow Malaysian Ervin Chang and four others.
“It wasn’t a good day today but I was trying to scrap in a decent round, I could have but I missed four puts from six feet and more costly missed two from three feet on the back nine.
“The hot conditions weren’t a factor at all today, I just didn’t execute my shots like what I would normally do.
“But that is golf – I just have to take it on the chin and move on. I have one more day tomorrow.
“I have been playing well – the first two days my game was good but it was just a bad day today. I will stick to the same game plan tomorrow but hopefully with better execution,” said the 23-year-old to reporters after the completion of his round.
Meanwhile, Ervin was very frustrated with his performance despite a good start.
He shot a two-under-par 69 which included a birdie and an eagle on the front nine. But missed birdies and a bogey on the 13th cost him dearly.
“I’m frustrated, not my best performance…I started really well but could not make anything else go in from there.
“I missed a lot of birdies and didn’t hit a lot of greens, I gave myself some opportunities but could not make any puts out there.
“I will go back and analyse my game and see what I can improve on tomorrow,” he said.
Canadian Jared Du Toit shot an amazing round of nine-under-par 62 to take the lead going into the final day of action tomorrow.
Overnight leader Australia’s Kevin Yuan dropped to second spot after carding a round of three-under-par 68, while American John Catlin retains third place after registering a round of three-under-par 68.
The other Malaysian left in the field, Kim Leun Kwang, is in 64th place after the conclusion of the third round. – February 17, 2024