KUALA LUMPUR, 20 February 2004 — Young Englishman Jamie Elson, who has golf in his genes, rose from his sick bed yesterday to grab a three-way share of the lead at the $1.2 million Malaysian Open.
Elson, the 22-year-old son of the 1973 European Tour rookie of the year Pip Elson, birdied his last three holes for a six-under-par 66 at Saujana Golf and Country Club.
He shares the lead with South Africa’s Martin Maritz, one of the tallest players on the European Tour, and Australian veteran Terry Price. They are a stroke ahead of unheralded Malaysian Airil Rizman Zahari who is alone in fourth spot.
Tournament favorite Padraig Harrington, the highest ranked player in the field at number 11 in the world, kept in touch with a 69 on his first outing this year.
Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, who fell out of the top 50 in the world earlier this week, blew a good start with a run of five fives to finish his round. He slumped from four under par after 13 holes to end on one-over-par 73. Elson suffered food poisoning after arriving from the ANZ Championship in Australia on Monday evening and only managed a few practice holes.
“I ordered some room service at the hotel and felt ill half an hour after finishing eating,” said Elson, a graduate from the 2003 Challenge Tour. “I did not do much practice but feel okay today. Luckily I have played the course before (at the World Amateur Championships in 2002), so I knew my way around.
“It is a great golf course with course management the key. I have been swinging nicely for a few weeks and today I putted lovely. It was great to learn the game from my dad — it is brilliant to have someone to lean on.” Maritz, who stands 6ft 5in, survived some errant shots in his morning round and holed a long putt at the last to card his 66.
Maritz nearly blew his score with a topped tee shot at his second last hole, the ball flying barely 100 yards, but recovered for a bogey.
