Kiradech Among the Record Nine-Way Lead in Qatar Masters

 

 

Kiradech’s halfway total of 8 under-par-136 was matched by seven other players comprising South Africans Thomas Aiken and Jaco Van Zyl, Spanish duo Jorge Campillo and Nacho Elvira, Finn Mikko Korhonen, Englishman Andy Sullivan, South Korean Jeunghun Wang and Welshman round one leader Bradley Dredge.

The Thai star who just finished tied fourth in Abu Dhabi last week shrugged off a poor start of two bogeys at the front nine before turning things around with four birdies at the back.

“I didn’t have a good start by laying up the rough and missed the chip. Then needing three putts for 24 feet to the pin on the sixth hole put me under pressure even more I missed a birdie on the eighth and missed the fairway on the ninth,” the winner of three European Tour said.

 “Then the momentum changed after I birdied on the 10^th. I was more relaxed and felt confident with my game.

“Overall it was quite a good finish under this windy condition.  For the weekend game plan, I have to control my game well and hit the greens. It’s quite windy on this course,” said Kiradech.

Opening day leader Bradley Dredge shot a par round of 72 and was joined by a cluster of players at eight-under-par to top the leaderboard.

The bunching did not stop there though as there are a further seven players joined on seven-under-par and another 10 just one shot further back, including former champion Ernie Els, almost guaranteeing a tight finish over the weekend.

"I feel very happy," said Spain's Nacho Elvira.

"I had two good rounds in a row and today was a bit tougher with the wind.

I'm very happy with a 69 today."

Englishman Andy Sullivan admitted he enjoyed the increasingly windy conditions and said he was "ready to attack at the weekend".

Perhaps ominously for the leaders, one of those clumped among the chasing pack is the European Tour's man-in-form, Alex Noren.

The Swede hit a 70 to follow his opening 68 and finish on six-under-par, even though he was unconvinced by his form.

"It was quite a tricky day, I didn't maybe play my best all the way round," said Noren.

"But two-under-par heading into the weekend, anything can happen."

 

But perhaps the day's biggest winner though was England's Chris Paisley, who won $150,000 after getting a hole-in-one at the par-three 17th.

That cheque for a single shot is equal to the second biggest payout of his career, said the 30-year-old.

"I should do it more often," he joked afterwards.

"I didn't actually know there was a prize until after."

The hole-in-one also helped Paisley, the world number 271, finish with an eagle and two birdies to end on three-under and on the right side of the cut by just one shot.

Also scraping through to the weekend was Graeme McDowell.

The former US Open champion finished on three-under-par after hitting a second round 75.

It was especially disappointing for the Northern Irishman as he managed to birdie his first two holes for a share of the lead, but quickly faded and instead battled only to ensure he made the final two rounds.

One player who did not make the cut was Tommy Fleetwood.

The winner of the Abu Dhabi Championship last week, the Englishman hit a second successive 73 to finish two over and head home.