2/14/2015

Hoey Hopes Of Thai Title Fade

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Michael Hoey’s hopes of victory in the Thailand Classic faded after carding a one over par 73 in his third round at Black Mountain.

Hoey, who led after the opening round, started steadily picking up one shot in his opening nine holes to reach the turn at eight under for the tournament.

However the man from Ballmoney failed to gather any momentum and dropped three shots on the back nine before a birdie on the last dragged him to seven under par, eight shots off the lead of Scott Hend.

Big-hitting Hend carded a six-under-par 66 in the third round to take a one-stroke lead ahead of Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez (69) and three-times Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thongchai Jaidee (67) of Thailand.

Another local hope Kiradech Aphibarnrat posted a 70 to be at fourth spot in the $2 million tournament, co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours.

Hend made birdies on the second and seventh holes but his game went up a gear after making the turn at the Black Mountain Golf Club.

He added another shot on the 10th, sunk an eagle three on the 609-yards 13th and picked up further gains on the 15th and 17th before giving up one on the last for his day’s only blemish.

“It was a good round and puts me in a good position,” Hend said.

“I played very solidly and putted quite well. I only made one mistake so it was pretty good.

“This is where you want to be, in the last group on a Sunday. I’ll be playing with Thongchai again and Miguel so it’ll be a good little test tomorrow.”

Overnight leader Jimenez stayed in the hunt with a spotless round of 69.

“I’m playing well and hitting it well,” the 51-year-old said. “I missed a few putts but I’m creating lots of chances.

“It could have been five or six under today but that’s the game and you have to take it.”

Tournament ambassador Thongchai also matched Jimenez in going bogey-free and was confident he had the game to challenge Hend in the final round.

“I played really well again today. I managed to hit 17 greens and gained lots of confidence from my finishing hole which I birdied,” said Thongchai.

“This course favours the long hitters. Just look at Scott Hend, he was getting on the greens in two on all of the par-fives. On 17, he could even reach the green from the tee!

“My style is not so aggressive but I will use my accuracy and putting and try to go low tomorrow.”


Lawrie Rediscovers Fizz

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Peter Lawrie can trace his poor performances directly to taking up a fitness regimen that included cutting Coca-Cola out of his diet in mid-2013. The effect on his golf game proving dramatic and costing his automatic laying rights on the European Tour. 

Which he had held almost without fail since turning professional in 1997.

“I was addicted to it and I tried to stop it,” Lawrie told Newstalk "I was drinking litres of the stuff. Even in the hottest countries, like Malaysia, I would have Coke on the golf course, because I was addicted to it.”

“I went from such a high on sugar to a dramatic low,” he continued. “And I never recovered from it. I really didn’t. That was the one thing. I know this might shock people, but I lost all confidence in myself. I wouldn’t say I went for a breakdown, but I got exceptionally emotional at the end of that year and some of last year, as well. It was just very difficult to deal with all of the situations that were coming at me. Whether that had anything to do with my mental state in any shape or form, I have no idea.”

Lawrie explained that he is now on Coke again. 

A factor that has coincided with newly found form in Kuala Lumpur last week when he fired a second round 66 at the Maybank Malysian Open - and a top twenty finish. A result which sees him currently sit 73rd in the Race to Dubai. 

Dizzy heights for the Dubliner accustomed the past two seasons to being outside the top 100 - and chasing salvation at the season ending Perth International Open two years running. 

Unfortunately failing last year and having to survive this year on sponsor invites.

“When you go through what I went through for the last 20-odd months, you have to look at every situation that you’ve been in and you think, ‘How did I get here?’ I’d spent the last five years as a consistent top-60 in the European Tour Order of Merit. I was exceptionally consistent. Then all of a sudden, I couldn’t even come close to making a cut.

“It just didn’t work. I don’t know whether it triggered something in my brain or whatever, but I wasn’t the same Peter Lawrie when I did it.”

“It’s been a long time coming, I have to admit. I’ve been in the doldrums for the last 20-odd months since the Irish Open 2013 so it’s been a long wait. Hopefully, I can keep it up there,” 
“It’s tough this year, being on sponsors' invites the whole time. You’re writing begging letters, being a sole trader that I am, not with a big management group so it’s difficult but I’ll keep trying. When I get the opportunities it’s great to play well.”