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Taiwan's Chang shares halfway lead in New Delhi

Chang Tse-peng of Taiwan watches his shot during day two of the Hero Honda Indian Open at the Delhi Golf Club in New Delhi yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Taiwan's Chang Tse-peng fired a five-under-par 67 at the Delhi Golf Club to share the halfway lead on 133 with rising Thai star Chapchai Nirat at the Hero Honda Indian Open.

Despite an impressive amateur record, Chang, 37, has failed to notch up a career first victory on the Asian Tour, but he said that after working on his swing and mental strength, he was now fully focused.

"I have been working on changes to my swing and mental side for the past six months but this week I have stopped all of that," he said.

"I have cleared my mind completely of all changes. I am just thinking about playing the course," he said.

Australia's David Gleeson was a stroke behind in the US$500,000 Asian Tour event, with American Gary Rusnak alone on 138 and title holder Jyoti Randhawa of India, Australian Unho Park and Malaysia's Danny Chia bunched on 139.

During the Tour's summer break, Chapchai spent three weeks learning to become a monk, a practice common amongst Thais as a mark of respect to their parents.

Part of the process was meditating, which Chapchai says has taught him to control his emotions and helped him brush off a frustrating double bogey when he was cruising at six-under for the day.

"I was in the middle of the fairway, but on the top my backswing, my concentration was disrupted and I hit it into the jungle and had to take an unplayable lie," Chapchai said.

"But I wasn't angry. I think the time I spent in the Buddhist temple has helped me a lot on the golf course. The meditation has helped keep my emotions on an even keel and I don't get angry these days. I wasn't angry after the double bogey," he said.

Currently fifth on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit, Chapchai -- winner of this seasons TCL Classic in China -- hopes to live up to his billing as the highest ranked player in New Delhi.
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