Zaw Moe still in driver's seat

16/08/1998

THUNDER, lightning and a thick sheet of pouring rain failed to dampen the
blistering form of Myanmar's Zaw Moe at the US$200,000 Volvo Masters of
Malaysia at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club in Shah Alam yesterday.
Zaw Moe, who has yet to make a bogey, reached 13-under in the rain after
nine holes in the third round to lead by six strokes.
Yesterday, only five players managed to finish the third round while 72
others will complete theirs today and continue with the final round in the
evening.
Danny Zarate of the Philippines, who was playing in the same group as
Zaw Moe and Korea's Choi Kyung-ju and Mexico's Carlos Espinosa, was in
second place. Choi has nine holes to complete while Espinosa has 12 holes
to play.
Overnight leader Eric Meeks, who managed to finish nine holes, is six-
under while first round leader Boonchu Ruangkit is in the 19th place with
four-under.
Ed Fryatt, the leader in the Omega Tour with US$87,097 in his coffer, is
in fifth placing with six-under.
"The rain doesn't bother me at all, I am used to this sort of
conditions," said Zaw Moe, who is currently 32nd on the Japan PGA Tour
money list.
"I am playing very well following lessons from my coach Phil Ridson."
The 31-year-old, who lives in Singapore, completed his second round
early yesterday and led with a five-under67.
Zaw Moe will also feature in next week's Singapore Open, where he will
attempt to defend his title. Yesterday, he extended his lead late with a
three-under on the front nine following birdies on the second, seventh and
eighth.
"I am not missing any greens but right now, I don't want to be bothered
with the score because it will only upset my game. All I want to do is
rest," said Zaw Moe.
Choi, who is still looking for his first win on the Omega Tour, was
visibly affected by the rain.
"It has slowed everything down. I made a birdie on the par-five first
after reaching the green on two but then had eight pars. The ball was not
running far on the soggy fairways and greens," said Choi.
"If the weather is better tomorrow (today), then the rest of us will
have a better chance of catching up with Zaw Moe."
While Zaw Moe is comfortably at the front, the field is tightly bunched
behind him with eight players tied at six-under for the tournament and six
at five-under.
If Zaw Moe starts to drop his shots today, the tournament will be wide
open.
Ali Kadir, P. Gunasegaran and Jamaluddin Bador were the Malaysians who
made the cut but were trailing far behind the leader.
Leading scores (2nd rd) - 134 Zaw Moe (Myn) 67, 67; 137 Eric Meeks (US)
71, 66; Danny Zarate (Phi) 69, 68; Ed Fryatt (Eng) 72, 66; 138 Chawalit
Plaphol (Tha) 69, 69; Choi Kyung-ju (Kor) 68,70; Wang Ter-chang (Tai)
68,70; Chung Joon (Kor) 65, 73.
139 Chris Williams (Eng) 71, 68; Mike Cunning (US) 71, 68; Des
Terblanche (RSa) 71, 68; Carlos Espinoza (Mex) 71, 68; Nico Van Rensburg
(RSa) 70, 69; Fran Quinn (US) 70, 69; Mardan Mamat (Sin) 69, 70; Adrian
Percey (Aust) 68, 71; Boonchu Ruangkit (Tha) 66, 73.
140 Jim Rutledge (Can) 72, 68; 141 Peter Teeravainen (US) 72, 69; Mo
Joong Kyung (Kor) 72, 69; Gerry Norquist (US) 71, 70; Anthony Kang (Kor)
71, 70; Eric Rustand (US) 71, 70; Greg Hanrahan (US) 71, 70; Dominique
Boulet (HK) 70, 71; James Kingston (RSa) 70, 71; Felix Casas (Phi) 68, 73.
(END)