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This is an archive article published on December 1, 2000

Johl shoots 68, trails by two

Cha-Am (Thailand), November 30: On a hot day revived by the cool sea breeze, the first round of the 36th Thailand Open being played at the...

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Cha-Am (Thailand), November 30: On a hot day revived by the cool sea breeze, the first round of the 36th Thailand Open being played at the Springfield Royal Country Club, highlighted the Asian PGA tour’s top contenders.

While many found respite in sundry shady patches, for the tough women caddies — it was a full day at work. In a practice peculiar to South-East Asia, young Thai girls, well covered up in large pink shirts and gray trousers, carry bags all week to earn a living, regardless of the weather conditions.

While Calcutta’s Arjun Atwal employs a regular, Chandigarh based-Hardavin Johl feels quite amongst her kind as she proceeds to caddie for her husband. In a country where the language barrier is a major hindrance, they seem to manage without ruffling any feathers while imparting a smile or two along the way.

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This afternoon, waterfalls occasionally broke the silence on the course, situated in the midst of palm plantations with low hills forming an idyllic backdrop, as the pros got down to serious business. And at the end of a hard day’s work, Phillipino Rodrigo Cuello, local champion Thongchai Jaidee and Japan’s Daisuke Maruyama emerged the stars.

With identical scores of six-under-par 66, Cuello, Jaidee and Maruyama secured a one-shot lead over Chwalat Plaphol, who shot a 67.

Forty-year-old Cuello, the third round leader from the Hero Honda Masters held at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon earlier this year, was happier with his performance today that he was after the mentioned event. "I’ve had a disappointing year but the last four events have been much better. My game is coming around," said a satisfied Cuello who made seven birdies and one bogey on his way to a six-under.

Starting from the front nine, he birdied the third, dropped his only shot of the round on the par four fourth and from there on birdied the fifth, eighth, 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th.

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Jaidee also felt a sense of achievement after shooting his 66, even though he has played the course before. "I’ve played here 10 times but this is my lowest score," said Jaidee, who started from the ninth and birdied the 12th, 14th, 16th and bogeyed the 17th before making the turn after a birdie on the 18th and continuing with these on the second, fifth, eighth. He added, "I’m playing really well at the moment and am finding all the fairways and greens. The greens are soft so I can attack the pin."

The third leader for the day was 29-year-old Maruyama. Having played professional golf for the last seven years, the Japanese golfer finally made a breakthrough this season. He won twice on Japan’s growing tour and then won the Taiwan PGA at the end of August. His main focus at the moment is the Japanese tour qualifying school, but he agrees that a win here this week would be an ideal way to go into the qualifying school.

At five-under-par 67, Chawalat Plaphol, Yeh Wei-tze and Des Terblanche occupy fourth place, one shot better than fifth placed two shot lead over India’s Amandeep Johl, Ross Bain and local golfer Manoch Saengsui.

Meanwhile, top Indian professionals, Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa shot a 69 each to be comfortably placed after 18 holes on the Jack Nicklaus designed par 72 course. Teeing off early this morning, both made most of the calm conditions. They are tied with Rafael Ponce and Souushi Tajima.

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At two-under-par 70 for the day are Aaron Meeks and Nam Young-Woo. They hold a frail one-shot margin over ten players bunched at one-under-par after the day’s round, the notables being Robert Huxtable, veteran golfer Kyi Hlan Han and Greg Hanrahan.

Amongst the other golfers making up the Indian contingent here, Amritinder Singh shot a level-par round, 72. Two strokes behind, Amit Dube shot a two-over-par 74, followed by Vivek Bhandari at 75 and Kanwar Sekhon six-over-par 78.

The course, with it’s short but tricky layout, promotes the utilization of well-planned play rather than length or might. However, quite surprisingly the scoreboard was dominated by figures in blue, indicating many over-par rounds.

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