2005 ASIAN TOUR: Volvo Masters of Asia

jaydeep · Post by **jaydeep** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 9:19 am

What happening with Jeev ...

Loss of focus??? He should took break before JPGA begins.

Jaydeep.

Kumar · Post by **Kumar** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 2:38 pm

Does Jeev lack Concentration?? He has always had a problem playing consistent Golf!! As days go by, my dreams of seeing Jeev on the PGA tour are also slowly receding..

As Jaydeep pointed out, may be a break before JPGA tour?

ajay · Post by **ajay** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 3:01 pm

2nd day scores:

1 Boonchu RUANGKIT THA 68 68 136 -8
2 Thongchai JAIDEE THA 67 70 137 -7
3 Andrew PITTS USA 69 70 139 -5
4 Muhammad MUNIR PAK 71 69 140 -4
8 Mukesh KUMAR IND 70 71 141 -3
8 Arjun SINGH IND 71 70 141 -3
22 Ashok KUMAR IND 75 68 143 -1
22 Digvijay SINGH IND 70 73 143 -1
29 Shiv KAPUR IND 72 72 144 0
29 Gaurav GHEI IND 73 71 144 0
49 Uttam Singh MUNDY IND 73 73 146 2
******CUT******
75 Vivek BHANDARI IND 74 75 149 5
75 Ajay GUPTA IND 76 73 149 5
75 Firoz ALI IND 75 74 149 5
112 Jeev Milkha SINGH IND 78 74 152 8

jaydeep · Post by **jaydeep** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 3:11 pm

Wow 4 strokes better round by Jeev, but that also +2 ...

.. ok ok bit tough on him, but really he is having lot more potential thats why such frustrating remarks ... Nice to see Mukesh Kumar and Arjun Singh in Top 10 and including Munir of Pakistan ... Ashok Kumar responded wellin second round ... Hopefully he will continue to rise.

Jaydeep.

Indian · Post by **Indian** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 11:52 pm

I beieve this is Shiv Kapur's first tournament as well after he qualified for APGA tour? Good job by him to make the cut in first tournament.
Jeev used to be the best Indian around only few years back. I am sure he'll come back. Golf gives you plenty of years to regain your touch.

Kumar · Post by **Kumar** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 4:12 am

Good to see Ashok doing well.. Hopefully he can translate this to top 10..

ajay · Post by **ajay** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 5:08 am

We tend to forget very fast. Only two months back (December), Jeev played superbly and just missed the title to finish 2nd (1 stroke behind the leader) in the JPGA/APGA co-sanctioned tournament at Okinowa. In 2004 May also, he had a very decent Japan tour season where he almost won at MUNSINGWEAR OPEN ( he finished T2). He also had few other top 10 and quite a few top 15 last year that resulted in a very decent 2004 Japan season. He finished 45th in moneylist.

After some decline, in early 2000s, especially in 2002 and 2003, I see that his carrer is in upswing once again since last year. I agree he was the best Indian player earlier. Since then Arjun and Jyoti have passed him and achieved more than him. If we don't measure Jeev's performance with Jyoti's and Arjun's performance, believe me he is not going downhill and as I said, he is making a comeback. We'll continue to see some indifferent results from him as that has always happened with him. But I'll just ignore these performances.

What has been missing from Jeev's Resume for some years is a title. In 90s he had been winning titles too. His last title was in Lexus International in 1999. Although he has come close to a title many times after 1999, but he couldn't close the deal. I think if he wins one title, and he is capable of that, it will certainly boost his career.

ajay · Post by **ajay** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 5:12 am

I beieve this is Shiv Kapur's first tournament as well after he qualified for APGA tour?

IIRC Shiv had two sponsor's invitation last year, when he was not a member. Yes, after getting APGA card this year, it is his first tournament.

Ashok and Shiv, both have talent to do better. I hope they 'll play the 2nd half of the tournament better and finish in top 10, or at least top 15.

Kumar · Post by **Kumar** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 5:44 am

Ajay (or even Swami if he see this post), Just curious... Of the big three (including jeev) , who do you think has the best all round game or the most talent??

Gulamali · Post by **Gulamali** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 12:14 pm

What a terrific round by Ashok Kumar today a superb 65 to lie in second place. But for Jaidee making 2 birdies in the closing 3 holes he would have ben top. 8 birdies today for Ashok...

for Sunday. Impresed by his confidence when he says he is going for the WIN tomorrow.

206 - Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 67-70-69

208 - Ashok Kumar (IND) 75-68-65

209 - Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 68-68-73

210 - Scott Strange (AUS) 69-72-69

211 - Rick Gibson (CAN) 76-66-69, Arjun Singh (IND) 71-70-70, Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 70-70-71, Andrew Pitts (USA) 69-70-72

Here a quote from APGA site on Ashok

"The unheralded Kumar charged up the leaderboard with eight birdies against a lone bogey and missed matching the course record by one stroke. Wielding his putter like a magic wand, the Indian rolled in several long putts, including a 30 footer on eight, a 20 footer on 10 and a 15-foot conversion on 17.

"I putted nicely. I'm feeling good about my golf and I'm aiming for a win tomorrow. I'm not worried about anything, not even Thongchai. He's Asia's number one player but I have a chance to win," said Kumar, who made his debut on the Asian Tour last season and recorded a sixth place finish in the Carlsberg Masters Vietnam.

The 21-year-old turned pro two years ago but has shown his growing promise, winning the Indian Tour Order of Merit in 2004 and 10 titles at home.

A former caddie who grew up at the Delhi Golf Club, Kumar was taken under the wings of Amit Luthra, winner of the Asian Games gold medal in 1982. "Amit is my godfather, he gave me golf clubs to get started and has help shape my career. I have only a country exemption on the Asian Tour this year and a win will give me full exemption. I've won at home and it'll be nice for me to win abroad."

Kumar · Post by **Kumar** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 1:37 pm

Great show Ashok ..

PKBasu · Post by **PKBasu** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 1:39 pm

Fabulous stuff from Ashok Kumar. Is he the emerging new star of Indian golf? And only 21, at that. To be in contention against the currently red-hot Thongchai Jaidee is a huge achievement.

golfan · Post by **golfan** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 2:37 pm

Well done Ashok!!

GO ARJUN, great, consistent play the last few tournaments. Keep it up.

"Just concentrate on the hole"

Indian · Post by **Indian** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 2:48 pm

Wow! Ashok is the man of the moment! Go for it I say.

ajay · Post by **ajay** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 4:03 pm

WOW!! ASHOK KUMAR
This is a chance and he should grab it.
Ashok has been improving with every round. 75 68 and 65. He is no stranger to winning as he has won 10 time in Indian tour. Hopefully that experience will help him tomorrow and he'll handle the pressure. Play another sizzling round and beat Jaidee to get you first APGA title and the playing rights. Go Ashok!!

Arjun Singh also did well to post an under par score that helped him move three spots to T5. All other Indians were over par and lost some ground on the leaderboard. Mukesh Kumar also slipped out of top top 10 as he is now T14.
Here are the scores after 3rd round.

Code: Select all

1 	Thongchai JAIDEE  	THA	67	70	69		206	-10
2 	Ashok KUMAR       	IND	75	68	65		208	-8
3 	Boonchu RUANGKIT  	THA	68	68	73		209	-7
4 	Scott STRANGE     	AUS	69	72	69		210	-6
5 	Arjun SINGH       	IND	71	70	70		211	-5
14	Mukesh KUMAR      	IND	70	71	74		215	-1
36	Gaurav GHEI       	IND	73	71	74		218	 2
36	Shiv KAPUR        	IND	72	72	74		218	 2
45	Digvijay SINGH    	IND	70	73	77		220	 4
68	Uttam Singh MUNDY 	IND	73	73	79		225	 9