Three birdies in a row help Tvesa Malik make cut in Bangkok

Bangkok, May 13

Indian golfer Tvesa Malik overcame sweltering heat and her cold form as she shot three straight birdies on the back nine to make the cut at the Aramco Team Series – Bangkok on Friday.

Tvesa finished the second day at 72 after 75 on the first day. At 147, she was T-38?th. The top 60 and ties made the cut for the third and final round.

In the team competition, which was played over two days, Tvesa’s team, comprising Switzerland’s Nobuhle Dlamini and Anais Maggetti and local amateur Airi Misuhgashi, improved to the 15th place.

The team competition was won by Whitney Hiller’s team that included Krista Baker, Chonlada Chayanum and amateur Pattanam Amatanon.

The 27-year-old Tvesa is attempting to overcome inconsistencies that often come with a recent swing change.

While she hit the ball beautifully at the Ladies European Tour event, she just could not get her putter to convert several close chances in the opening two rounds.

Local hero Patty Tavatanakit (three-under par 69), led the field at nine-under par 133, two shots better than England’s Felicity Johnson (68) and Belgium’s Manon de Roey (67).

Former world No 1, Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, was also in the mix. A two-under par 70 took her to tied fourth place at six-under par 138.

In Friday’s second round, Tvesa was staring at the prospect of an idle weekend, but things changed when she finally managed to roll in a 24-foot birdie putt on the 11th hole.

That was followed by another long birdie putt on the 12th hole, and then an even more unlikely putt from off the green on the 13th.

“It was still a very tough day. I don’t think it was very easy to play out here. I was able to hit my shots close yesterday, as well as today, but just didn’t make as many pars as I needed to.

“Hopefully, I’m going to have another chance to do it tomorrow and hopefully, I can get some to drop,” said Tvesa, who was followed through the 18 holes by her father Aloke, mother Ritu and sister Kasvi.

“But I didn’t leave any putt short today. They all went past because I was really trying to make everything. It just wasn’t my day with the birdies. It just didn’t do what it was supposed to. I missed too many of them by very narrow margins,” she added.

The Aramco Team Series is two competitions rolled into one – a USD 500,000 team competition, where an amateur joins the team of three professionals, and a 54-hole individual competition.