Fakhrul Akmal scored an eagle, six birdies against a double bogey to card a six-under 66 to upstage his more illustrious rivals for the first round lead in the Harrier Cup at Kelab Golf DiRaja Pahang.
The 28-year-old long hitter who hails from Kulim, was in his element around the greens, where three birdies and the eagle on the Par 5 10th came via chip-ins. Fakhrul was in fact eight-under going into the last hole until his tee shot ended up in a bad spot among the trees.
“I had no choice but to declare an unplayable,” said Fakhrul who was left with 220 yards to the green after advancing his ball out onto the fairway. “I missed the green with my fourth shot and with the rough here really tough, couldn’t chip close enough to save bogey.”
Nevertheless Fakhrul, currently ranked 18th on the Toyota Tour Order of Merit, was pretty happy with his game, and carding a six-under 66 was his best on tour so far. “It’s the first time I’m leading on the Toyota Tour so I guess there’s nothing to complain about.”
Fakhrul, who leads Kim Leun Kwang by a stroke, said the only change he might make in his game plan for tomorrow would be at the 18th tee box where he might hit driver onto the 9th fairway on the left.
Kim Leun Kwang is one stroke behind Fakhrul Akhmal
Kim, who came so close to winning at the Supra Cup in Johor Bahru last month, continued with his fine form notching six birdies and a bogey. He was satisfied with his game from tee to green and was delighted with the condition of the course.
A stroke behind was Wafiyuddin Manaf who had a mixed card of an eagle, six birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey. Bunched in fourth place at three-under were Fortuna Cup champion Ben Leong, Daeng Rahman, Brandon Lai, Irfan Syahmi and Zia Izzuddeen.
Local professionals Ruhanraj Vinayagam and Edvin Ying found the going tough and finished at even par in joint 17th position, six strokes behind the leader in this seventh leg of the Toyota Tour event which is organised by the Professional Golf Malaysia and delivered by MST Golf.
Toyota Tour Elite Junior Wang Xin Yao is joint leader with Geraldine and Zulaikah
Meanwhile Toyota Tour Elite Junior Wang Xin Yao gave a credible account of herself when the amateur finished at one-over 73, jointly leading the Ladies Championship with Geraldine Wong and Zulaikah Nasser.
Leading 1st Rd scores
66 Fakhrul Akmal
67 Kim Leun Kwang
68 Wafiyuddin Manaf
69 Ben Leong, Daeng Rahman, Irfan Syahmi, Zia Izzuddeen, Brandon Lai
70 Maveen Kumar, Lee Chong Li, R. Nachimuthu, Zurie Harun
Ladies Championship
73 Geraldine Wong, Zulaikah Nasser, Wang Xin Yao (am)
75 Michelle Koh
76 Amalia Shahzan
79 Lana Aswadi
