Malaysian golfers survive halfway cut at Link Hong Kong Open 2026 as Matthew Cheung takes four-shot lead in Fanling.
HONG KONG: Malaysians Ervin Chang and Gavin Green booked their places in the weekend rounds of the US$2 million Link Hong Kong Open after carding even-par 70s in the second round at Hong Kong Golf Club yesterday.
Chang, who opened with a six-under 66, sits joint 37th on four-under 136, 10 strokes behind halfway leader and home favourite Matthew Cheung.
The 28-year-old endured a difficult front nine, picking up four bogeys against one birdie to turn in three-over 37 before recovering with three birdies on the back nine.
Chang blamed the faster greens for his early struggles but was pleased to regain his composure after the turn. “Green speed went up by almost a foot today.
“I had a lot of silly mistakes out there. It felt like I was almost back into a nervous state when I played the first nine holes,” he said.
Chang, who finished joint 14th last year, is determined to attack over the remaining 36 holes after consecutive missed cuts in Taiwan and Macao dented his confidence. “I’m going to be aggressive. I have to be aggressive in the next two days,” he added.
Green, meanwhile, produced a stunning fightback with five consecutive birdies from the 13th to 17th holes after slipping to four-over for the day.
The 2017 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion had suffered a double bogey at the 10th and bogeys at the sixth and 11th before his birdie blitz helped him recover to an even-par 70 and finish on two-under 138, exactly on the cut line.
The third Malaysian in the field, Khavish Varadan, missed the cut despite returning a 70 for a two-over 142 total.
Cheung surged to a four-stroke lead with an eight-under 62 for a 14-under 126 aggregate, while American Caleb Surratt also carded a 62 to sit second on 10-under.
India’s Anirban Lahiri, England’s Steve Lewton and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond shared third place.
The champion will earn an invitation to next year’s Masters at Augusta National, while the leading player not already exempt will secure a place in The 155th Open at St Andrews.