HONG KONG (22 May, 2012) – With the winds again blowing hard as theHK$400,000 tournament took to the Discovery Bay Golf Club, the hard-hitting 35-year-old picked up four birdies over the course – to offset his double bogey and bogey blemishes - and his two-round total of 142 sees him with a one-stroke lead over Dutchman Guido van der Valk.
“I played pretty steady,” said Lam after his round. “It was not too bad as conditions were tough. I have been struggling with my game for a while now but things seem to have come good in the last few weeks. It’s just nice to find myself in contention because it feels like it has been a long time since I have been.”
While the Asian Tour regular collected the 2008 Volvo Masters of Asia, there have been slim pickings ever since but Lam revealed the decision made three weeks ago to move to using a long putter was already paying dividends.
“A few fell for me today so that was nice,” he said. “I am a long hitter, too, so I took advantage of that hitting in to the wind a few times. It’s just good to be in this position and I look forward to checking out Kau Sai Chau tomorrow.”
The Ageas Hong Kong PGA Championship heads to the Kau Sai Chau Golf Course for its final round and Lam has yet to play the course – a factor that may well be on the mind of the second-placed Van der Valk who was runner-up to Frenchman Jean Van de Velde at last year’s event and knows the island course well.
“I like the course and with some nice weather we could be set for a great day,” said the 32-year-old Dutchman who provided the day’s high drama with a four-over 76, which included a triple bogey seven on 14. He then went bogey on 15, double bogey on 16 - before recovering his composure with par and then an eagle three on the last. “I was playing really well until I lost my ball about three yards into the rough on the 14th. But I fought back with a good finish so that gives me confidence going into tomorrow,” he said.
Van der Valk’s two-round total of 143 saw him one stroke clear of leading locals Wong Woon Man, Chris Tang and Terrence Ng who sit at 144 for the event along with Australia’s Unho Park.
For the 18-year-old Ng – the event’s leading amateur – the 54-hole tournament so far has all been about patience.
“The wind has been very tough, but if you just remind yourself to be patient, you will be fine,” he said. “I am excited about tomorrow because Kau Sai Chau is pretty much my home course. I have played it many times and I feel like I am in pretty good shape. I am playing consistently, so I am hopeful.”
Australia’s 1990 US PGA Championship winner Wayne Grady kept himself in contention with an even-par 72 that sees him sit a four-over for the tournament, and four strokes off the lead.
Leading second-round scores Ageas Hong Kong PGA Championship, Discovery Bay Golf Club:
142 - Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 71-71
143 - Guido van der Valk (NDL) 67-76
144 - Wong Woon Man (HKG) 71-73, Chris Tang (HKG) 75-69, Unho Park (AUS) 71-73, Terrence Ng (HKG) 72-72.
145 – Wilson Choy (HKG) 70-75
146 – Dominique Boulet (HKG) 73-73, Wayne Grady (AUS) 74-72, CJ Gatto (USA) 74-72
147- David Freeman (WAL) 71-76