Chapchai Cards 70 to Maintain Lead

Playing under the fluctuating weather condition with temperature dropping from 41 degree on Thursday to only 25 on Friday, the 32-year-old Chapchai swapped four birdies with four bogeys but also produced a spectacular eagle on the seventh hole to settle with a 70 and a midway total of 10-under-par 134.

“The weather changed drastically and it was windier today. I didn’t putt as well as I did on Thursday. The green was a bit slow and the pin positions were more difficult. I just could not aim at the pin all the time and made three putts for two straight holes (on the ninth and 10^th) ,” said the overnight leader Chapchai.

“About the eagle shot, my second shot fell on the bunker and I had to hit 10 yard  from the sand and it went in. It was my highlight of the day,” added Chapchai in search for his first win since winning the Asian Tour trophy in Selangor in September 2014.

“It’s been a long time since I won a tournament. I would love to end this drought but I don’t want to put myself under pressure as there are many good players out there. I just need to stick to my game plan and putt well,” he added.

Trailing a stroke behind was Somchai Pongpaew who shared the lead with Chapchai until he committed his first error on the ninth hole where he finished with a 67 and a total nine-under-par 135.

Panuphol Pittayarat carded a 68 and an overall six-under-par 138 to fall four shots off the lead with hometown boy Thanyakorn Khrongpha and Thummanoon Koonmark following at joint fourth with 139s.

A total of 58 players made the cut at three over par. Veteran Prayad Marksaeng, with a fiasco round of 81,  was one of the big names who failed to advance to the weekend rounds.

In the par 72 6,561 yard women’s competition ,  16-year-old amateur Pajaree Anannarukarn carded a 69 to take a lead with a two-day-total of three-under-par 141. The 2015 SEA Games gold medalist was three shots ahead of Nattagate Nimitpongkul heading into today’s final round.