Flying Dutchman leads Asian Q-School

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January 14, 2010

Tim Sluiter of Holland has given his two-month old professional career a huge boost at the Asian Tour Q-School.

Tim Sluiter of Holland gave a huge boost to his two-month old professional career by taking the halfway lead at the 2010 Asian Tour’s final Qualifying School,.

The 20-year-old Dutchman who was a member of the Holland team that won the World Amateur Team Championship in 2006, fired an eagle and four birdies en-route to a second round five-under-par 67 at the par-72 Springfield Royal Country Club for a two-day nine-under-par 134 total.

Three-time Japan Tour winner, Azuma Yano, also playing at Springfield, fired a 66 to take a share of second position alongside compatriots Masaki Sakata and Katsumune Imai who shot identical 70s at the par-71 Palm Hills Golf Club.

A total of 105 players made the weekend rounds after the cut was set at two-over-par 145.

Talented Singaporean Quincy Quek, Frenchman Jean Van De Velde and Tran Le Duy Nhat, aiming to be the first Vietnamese to earn playing rights on the Asian Tour, are among those in the running for a top-40 finish to secure playing rights in the new Asian Tour season.

Past Asian Tour winners Artemio Murakami of the Philippines and Americans Bryan Saltus and Edward Loar are also in the mix together with two Chinese players, Xiao Zhi-jin and Liao Gui-ming.

Starting from the back, Sluiter shot three consecutive birdies from the seventh hole, but he was particularly delighted with an eagle three after a superb seven iron approach left him with a simple two-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole.

“I’m playing fairly good especially in the windy conditions. I stayed patient and that helped. I haven’t felt as comfortable as this in a while.

“Finishing in the top 10 will be great, but I’m trying to win it. I’m not going out there and try to shoot even par. I’m going to make an effort to make a lot of birdies. Winning would definitely be a great start for me on the Asian Tour,” the Dutchman added..

Leading second round scores:

134 – Tim Sluiter (NED) 67, 67

135 – Azuma Yano (JPN) 69, 66, Masaki Sakata (JPN) 65, 70, Katsumune Imai (JPN), 65, 70

136 – Han Seung-su (KOR) 65, 71

137 – Lee Dae-jun (KOR) 70, 67, David Johnson (USA) 70, 67, Brad Smith (AUS) 71, 66

138 – Toni Karjalainen (FIN) 72, 66, Sam Osborne (ENG) 66, 72, Baek Seuk-Hyun (KOR), 70, 68 Joshua Kelley, (USA) 70, 68, Poosit Supupramai (THA) 69, 69, Ross Bain (SCO) 68, 70, J.S. Kim (KOR) 69, 69, Chang Tse-Peng (TPE) 70, 68

139 – Ben Fox (USA) 70, 69, Pasi Purhonen (FIN) 70, 69

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