Nicholas looking for solid display at Templer Park

PETALING JAYA: National No. 1 and defending champion Nicholas Fung will be out to get his season back on track at the PGM Vascory Templer Park Championship, which begins on Wednesday at the Templer Park Country Club.

The RM250,000 Asian Development Tour (ADT) event, the eighth stop this season, has attracted a strong field of 143 entries from 16 countries.

Nicholas, the Order of Merit winner last year, has been struggling with his form following a neck injury.

Except for the joint fourth-spot finish at last month’s PGM Northport Glenmarie, there was nothing much to shout about for the 24-year-old Sabahan.

Nicholas’s worst performance came was last week when he missed the halfway cut for the first time this season at the Queen’s Cup in Koh Samui, Thailand.

As much as he loves to keep his crown at his favourite’s course - Templer Park - this week, Nicholas intends to take it easy.

“My recent form has not been good because of my neck injury, but it seems to be getting better now,” said the world No. 270.

“I don’t want to think about winning just yet. I don’t want to put myself under pressure. 

“I just want to enjoy my game and play some good golf this week.

“I love to play on this course. I’ve had some good memories here as this is where I won my first ADT title. Hopefully I can put my past experiences and course knowledge to good use this week,”

Other local players in the fray include Iain Steel and Danny Chia, both two-time winners on the ADT, as well as top national amateur Gavin Kyle Green.

ADT winners like the Filipino brothers Jay and Rufino Bayron, Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand, Japan’s Mitsuhiko Hashizume and American Brett Munson are also taking part.