Amateurs Pan, Kim put Asia on map at US Open
Source: Agencies |
June 16, 2013, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AMATEURS Pan Cheng-tsung of Chinese Taipei and South Korea-born Michael Kim kept the flag flying high for Asia with stunning performances in difficult conditions at the US Open in Pennsylvania on Friday.
Phil Mickelson rolled in an 18-foot birdie putt in fading light at the 18th hole to grab a share of the lead in the second round when play was suspended due to approaching darkness.
The putt gave Mickelson a round of two-over-par 72 for a total of one-under 139 and tied him with fellow-American Billy Horschel, who fired a dazzling three-under 67 on a brutally difficult day at the weather-delayed championship.
Pan birdied two of his first nine holes to lie joint third at level par midway through the weather-delayed second round while Kim was a further stroke back, after covering his first 11 holes in two under.
Both players will aim to stay in contention for the year's second major championship when they return to Merion Golf Club's challenging East Course.
"I'm really happy with my performance," Pan, 21, told reporters after covering the outward nine in two-under during a round where the average score in the 155-strong field was almost five over par. Two under, that's a good score for me and I'm very satisfied with my performance this afternoon.
"But it's still early in the tournament. Two more days, and I've got 45 holes to go."
Asked if he felt any pressure challenging for the major widely regarded as the most gruelling to win, Pan replied: "Actually I'm very excited to see my name on the leaderboard. The reason I don't feel pressure is because the holes are hard and I am just trying every shot hard."
Pan is making his second appearance in a US Open, having missed the cut in last year's championship at the brutally difficult Olympic Club outside San Francisco.
"This atmosphere here is great," said the Taiwan native, who at the age of 15 in 2007 became the youngest player to reach the quarterfinals of the US Amateur since Bobby Jones.
"I came to the US Open 2011 and I just fell in love with this kind of atmosphere. I feel I belong to that kind of place. I'm not saying I'm good enough, but I love this kind of feeling and the competition is great. I just want to be here always."
Kim made a promising start after teeing off at the par-four 11th. He offset a bogey at the par-four 14th with a birdie on 16 to cover Merion's difficult closing stretch in level par, then edged up the leaderboard with further birdies at the first and second before play was suspended.
Phil Mickelson rolled in an 18-foot birdie putt in fading light at the 18th hole to grab a share of the lead in the second round when play was suspended due to approaching darkness.
The putt gave Mickelson a round of two-over-par 72 for a total of one-under 139 and tied him with fellow-American Billy Horschel, who fired a dazzling three-under 67 on a brutally difficult day at the weather-delayed championship.
Pan birdied two of his first nine holes to lie joint third at level par midway through the weather-delayed second round while Kim was a further stroke back, after covering his first 11 holes in two under.
Both players will aim to stay in contention for the year's second major championship when they return to Merion Golf Club's challenging East Course.
"I'm really happy with my performance," Pan, 21, told reporters after covering the outward nine in two-under during a round where the average score in the 155-strong field was almost five over par. Two under, that's a good score for me and I'm very satisfied with my performance this afternoon.
"But it's still early in the tournament. Two more days, and I've got 45 holes to go."
Asked if he felt any pressure challenging for the major widely regarded as the most gruelling to win, Pan replied: "Actually I'm very excited to see my name on the leaderboard. The reason I don't feel pressure is because the holes are hard and I am just trying every shot hard."
Pan is making his second appearance in a US Open, having missed the cut in last year's championship at the brutally difficult Olympic Club outside San Francisco.
"This atmosphere here is great," said the Taiwan native, who at the age of 15 in 2007 became the youngest player to reach the quarterfinals of the US Amateur since Bobby Jones.
"I came to the US Open 2011 and I just fell in love with this kind of atmosphere. I feel I belong to that kind of place. I'm not saying I'm good enough, but I love this kind of feeling and the competition is great. I just want to be here always."
Kim made a promising start after teeing off at the par-four 11th. He offset a bogey at the par-four 14th with a birdie on 16 to cover Merion's difficult closing stretch in level par, then edged up the leaderboard with further birdies at the first and second before play was suspended.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
