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Published on September 29, 2007

The formidable Thai pairing of Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng produced a battling two-under-par 70 in the foursomes to take a one stroke halfway lead in the Fortis International Challenge yesterday.

 The Thais produced three birdies against a lone bogey at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club for a 13-under par 131 aggregate in the qualifier for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China in November.

 Korea's Lee Sung and Lee Seung-ho fired a sparkling 67 for second place while Gerald Rosales and Tony Lascuna of the Philippines, New Zealand's Richard Lee and Stephen Scahill and Holland's Robert-Jan Derksen and Maarten Lafeber share third place on 133, two behind Thailand.

Overnight co-leaders Malaysia, with Iain Steel and Airil Rizman in the team, slipped to joint seventh place after struggling to a 75 in the alternate-shot format while last year's winners Singapore's Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing are ninth on 138. The top-five teams in the Fortis International Challenge will qualify for the World Cup.

"We are two-under par today which is very good in foursomes. We are pleased with our performance and we are confident that our fine run will continue," said a delighted Thongchai.

 "We hit a lot of greens and fairways, so that was good. Prayad also played very well and our plan worked out nicely."

 The Korean partnership of Seung-ho and Lee Sung produced the day's joint best score with a 67, highlighted by six birdies, including three on the trot from the opening hole. Both players were playing foursomes for the first time but they took a liking to the alternate shot format like duck taking to water.

 "We made three birdies right from the start. We drove well but didn't hole too many putts. It was a great combination," said the 21-year-old Seung-ho. "Lee Sung hit his irons really well and I was driving the ball nicely."

Rosales was full of praise for partner Lascuna, who peppered the pins with some delightful iron play as they reeled in five birdies to put the Philippines firmly in the hunt for a maiden World Cup appearance.

 "Tony is a good iron player and all I had to do was to hit the fairway and he would do the rest," beamed Rosales. "To shoot a 68 today has made it easier for us."

 A total of 18 teams have qualified automatically for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup through the Official World Golf Rankings with the remaining 10 places being decided through qualifying in Asia and South America.

Agencies

Kuala Lumpur