Prayad poised to strike, 2 shots behind leader Kataoke

Playing in drizzle at the Santiburi Samui Country Club, overnight joint leader Kataoka came back from a bogey on the 13th hole to sink four birdies for a total nine under-par-133.

“Today my tee shots were good. I never missed the fairway, except on the 13th where I misjudged the wind,” said Kataoka, looking to make amends for the Indonesia Masters where he blew a lead before settling at third.

Prayad fired seven birdies in a bogey-free round to put himself in contention with a total 135 for a joint second place with Bangladeshi Mohd Siddikur, who fired a 69. “I didn’t have any bogeys. I think I raised Thai fans’ spirits. Yesterday, I was playing in the afternoon and it was very windy. I’m not an afternoon person,” said the 47-year-old Prayad, who is desperate to get his hands on the Queen’s Cup trophy after being runner-up in 2007 and 2011. “Every time I come here, I always finish in the top 10 – at second and third – but I’ve never won.

It is like there is some little thing that holds me back. But I’m hoping for a breakthrough this year,” added Prayad, searching for his second international title having won the Thailand Open at the Thana City Golf and Sports Club in March.

“It depends on how I start tomorrow. The game plan is to play with careful shot selection. On this course you cannot play aggressive as it will lead to bogeys,” said the 

Hua-Hin based player. 

Young gun Arnond Vongvanij was unhappy with his short game but nevertheless carded a 67 to finish yesterday on six-under-par 136. He is aiming to become the first Thai to win both the King’s Cup and Queen’s Cup. 

“I haven’t really thought about it much. Last year I came here and didn’t play the way I wanted too. This year I just want to get round the course and not make silly mistakes. The winds swirl around a lot here, so you just have to keep the ball in play and avoid penalty shots. The greens are small, so as long as you get the ball on the green you get birdie chances,” said Arnond, who won his maiden Asian Tour title in the King’s Cup in Khon Kaen last December.

Arnond has a share of fourth place along with Malaysian Nicholas Fung and teenager Jazz Janewattananond. 

Of the joint first-round leaders, Danny Chia of Malaysia hit a 72 for a total 137 while Finland’s Jaakko Makitalo hit a dismal 75 for 140. 

Kiradech Abhibarnrat, the current Order of Merit leader, fired a finishing eagle for a 70 to make the cut with an even-par 142. Playing with a back injury and a blister on his right thumb, the robust Thai said that only the support of his family had kept him from withdrawing.

“I have to thank my family, especially my mum, who followed me through every hole to boost my spirits. This is a tough course to walk and she was with me all the time, which was an overwhelming feeling,” said Kiradech. 

Defending champion Thaworn Wiratchant stumbled to a disastrous 148, which left him outside the cut.