NEW DELHI: Chapchai Nirat of Thailand and China’s Liang Wenchong both carded second successive rounds of six-under-par to share a two-shot lead after the second round of the Avantha Masters yesterday.
Chapchai and Liang, both chasing their first wins since 2007 that came a week apart, were level at 12-under 132 ahead of four players on 10-under.
“This is a very long course and I managed to hit the balls long the last two days,” a satisfied Chapchai said after a sparkling round that included seven birdies and a single bogey.
“I also managed to hole several long putts as well and luck did play a part in getting me to my position today,” said the three-times Asian Tour winner.
Former Asia number one Liang’s putting was no less impressive as he sank a 25-foot birdie putt at the 17th, one of his eight.
“I have played some of my best golf this week and I managed to hole several long putts,” said the world number 201.
“I’ve learnt to be patient and my playing experience from all over the world has taught me well. There are two more rounds to go and, hopefully, I can be atop the leaderboard like today.” Chinnarat Phadungsil, who reeled off eight birdies in nine holes for an inward 28 and a five-shot first round lead, took 40 on the back nine on Friday before joining five others at nine-under.
The 2010 Ryder Cup-winning captain and eight-times European Tour number one Colin Montgomerie made a forgettable India debut, missing the cut after a second successive 76.
Defending champion Jbe Krugar of South Africa was another one to miss the weekend while former Ryder Cup player Edoardo Molinari and twice PGA Tour winner Daniel Chopra also had early exits.
Strange on top
In Bangkok, Australian Scott Strange shot a seven-under par 65 yesterday to grab the clubhouse lead after a rain-interrupted second-round of the $ 1 million Thailand Open at Thana City Golf & Sports Club near Bangkok.
Strange, winner of OneAsia’s first-ever tournament the Volvo China Open five years ago, went one better than his opening round and at the halfway stage sits at 13-under par on the 6,930-yard Greg Norman-designed course.
Japan’s Azuma Yano, Brazilian Lucas Lee, and Australian Terry Pilkadaris had a share of second place in the clubhouse, with eight others a shot further behind — including some still to complete their rounds.
Defending champion Chris Wood, three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington, Koreans Hwang Jung-Gon, Lee Kyoung-Hoon, and Cho Min-Gyu and Thailand’s Thanyakon Khrongpha finished on 11 under.
The round of the day belonged to Thai youngster Thanyakon, who equalled the course record 63 set by Welshman Ian Woosnam in 1996.
Paul McGinley, recently named captain of Europe’s Ryder Cup team for 2014, was forced to withdraw mid-way through the second round with a bad back.
The second round will resume today with 36 players still to finish before the cut is made.
