By Matt Smith
Chinese-Taipei teenager Hsieh Cheng-wei added a 74 to his first day 69 to sit one-under on Day 2 of the US$700,000 Yeangder TPC and become the youngest player ever to make it through to the weekend on one of the main tours at the age of 14 years and 33 days.
He beat the previous record set by China’s Guan Tian-lang, set at the 2013 Masters, when he was 14 years and 169 days.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond had held the Asian Tour record having made it through to the weekend at the Asian Tour International in 2010, when he was 14 years and 71 days.
BREAKING: Local amateur Hsieh Cheng-wei becomes the youngest male player (14 years and 33 days old) to make the halfway cut on one of the game's major Tours. ???#YeangderTPC #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/tZOFP8PcWP
— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) September 23, 2022
Chapchai Nirat leads the way on 11-under at Linkou International Golf and Country Club, two strokes ahead of a group including fellow Thai Settee Prakongvech, local hope Chieh-po Lee, India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu and American Berry Henson.
Four-time Asian Tour winner Nirat proudly announced “my game is back” after firing one of his best tournament rounds for a considerable period, an eight-under, to take a two-shot lead.
The last of his victories on the Asian Tour came in 2014 — but glimpses of his old self were on display when he made nine birdies before dropping his only shot on the penultimate hole.
“I have been working with my coach for the last five months,” he said. “I was teaching my juniors for a while but then I came back and worked hard for five months or six months, and on my fitness too. Today my putting was really good, but my tee shots were a bit left and right in today’s strong wind. The greens are also better this year. Yes, my game is back!”
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