Inspired by a magnificent 65 from Jason Hak Shun-yat, Hong Kong are a step closer to their first Putra Cup triumph in 50 years after taking the second round lead at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club yesterday.
The team, which started the day in third spot, combined effectively, with Liu Lok-tin, Shinichi Mizuno and Terrence Ng all carding solid 71s to support Hak's amateur course record-setting round. The youthful quartet stand on a total of 424, a shot ahead of Indonesia in second place. Malaysia, with 427, are a further three shots adrift in third.
"We're right where we want to be but more importantly, we're right where we expected to be," declared national coach Brad Schadewitz at the end of a day that saw play suspended early on because of a passing thunderstorm. "The team realizes this is only the second round, but it was a great performance, one of the best in recent history. The key tomorrow is to continue as we have done; play smart golf, stay patient and the birdies will come."
Hong Kong hasn't won the Putra Cup, Southeast Asia's premier team golf championship, which is being sponsored for the first time by HK Golfer, since the inaugural staging in 1961. But the in-form Hak, 17, who has enjoyed a tremendous season on the American junior circuit, is confident that he and he and his teammates can carry over their fine play to the final 36 holes.
"The Putra Cup is a key event for us and we're really looking forward to the next two days," said Hak, who in 2008, aged 14, became the youngest golfer in history to make the cut on the European Tour following a memorable performance at the UBS Hong Kong Open. "We're playing and thinking well as a team, so I really like our position."
Hak made six birdies and a single solitary bogey in his record round, which also lifted him into top spot in the championship's individual standings following a first round of 71.
"I hit it great off the tee and my irons shots were solid," said Tsim Sha Tsui-born Hak, who now bases himself in Florida. "I didn't hole as many putts as I would have liked, but it's hard to complain after a 65. I still have two more days to try and better that."
There was more good news for Hong Kong in the Santi Cup, the women's championship, which is being held concurrently with the Putra Cup. Led by Tiffany Chan, who fired a 67, Hong Kong maintained third spot behind Thailand and the Phillipines, who hold a four-stroke lead.
Shot-of-the-day honours went to Malaysia's Kenneth de Silva who aced the difficult par-three sixth hole on his way to an impressive 67.