Tommy gunning for Thai title

Briton Tommy Fleetwood shot a solid 69 to grab the halfway lead at the US$1-million Thailand Golf Championship as the field struggled in tricky conditions at the Amata Spring Country Club yesterday.

The 23-year-old was one of the few players to prosper amid swirling winds and thick rough on the 7,488-yard layout, sinking four birdies against a lone bogey on the fourth hole to build a stroke lead with a total four-under-par 140.

“My game felt good compared to yesterday, where I had to scrap and shot a one-under, which was unbelievable,” said the young gun, who won his maiden European Tour title in Scotland last year

“Today I woke up and turned up with a good golf swing. I played really well and had only about three or four bad shots. That’s what you need to do on a course with windy conditions like this,” added Fleetwood, who was a shot ahead of countryman Lee Westwood and Australian Marcus Fraser.

Inaugural champion Westwood sank five birdies against four bogeys for a 71 and a two-day total of three-under-par 141.

“I played well again. It is tricky out there. The wind was blowing a bit stronger than yesterday. All in all it was a good round and three-under will put me in a good position for the weekend. The course is playing very difficult compared to previous years. The rough is brutal,” said Westwood, who fired a total 22 under-par to claim the title three years ago.

Fraser, one of four opening-round leaders, swapped two birdies with a double bogey on the third hole to settle for an even-par 72 and a midway total of 141.

“It was beautiful for the first four or five holes and then the wind started picking up and it was pretty tough after that. I played pretty ordinary on the second nine but managed to hole quite a few putts to save pars which was nice,” said the Australian, in his second tournament after a long layoff with a wrist injury.

Tirawat Kaewsiribandit traded all his five birdies with five bogeys but still arrived at halfway as the best Thai in the tournament following a two-under-par 142, which placed him tied fourth with American Jonathan Moore. The 25-year-old is a close buddy of first-round co-leader Thanyakorn Krongpha and both are from Khon Kaen, meaning players from the Northeast city stole the limelight among the Thai competitors.

“I’m not excited yet, but I don’t know how I will react tomorrow when I play with super stars in front of a huge crowd. My game plan is to play shot by shot, and if I’m lucky enough to finish top four to earn a place in the British Open, I will be on cloud nine,” said the 25-year-old, a protege of Boonchu Ruangkit. 

A stroke behind was Thai No 1 Thongchai Jaidee, who carded 71 for a total 143 to take a share of sixth along with two-time Major champion Martin Kaymer of Germany and American Paul Peterson, both with 72s.

“This is a very tough course and the winds made it even tougher today. You have to tee off well to create a good position, otherwise you’ll be in trouble. However, I still believe I can catch with the leader,” said world No 42 Thongchai, who is chasing his first home title since 2006.

Despite a second-round 74, American Davis Lipsky remains on course to conquer the Asian Tour Order of Merit, having banked a 145 total for a share of 14th with first-round leader Richard Lee of Canada, who hit a 76.

Thanyakorn, another opening-round leader, struggled to a 77 and fell from No 1 to joint 21st with a total 146. He shared that spot with defending champion Sergio Garcia, who also found things difficult on the way to a 75. They were joined by Thai veterans Thaworn Wiratchant and Prayad Marksaeng as well as two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat is safely through to the next round with an even round and a total four-over-par 148. Prom Meesawat hit a disastrous 78, but his total six-over 150 also sent him through to the weekend’s play.

 

Leading scores after the second round:

140 - Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)  71-69

141 - Marcus Fraser (AUS) 69-72, Lee Westwood (ENG) 70-71,

142 - Tirawat Kaewsiribandit (THA) 70-72, Jonathan Moore (USA) 71-71

143 - Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 72-71, Paul Peterson (USA) 71-72, Martin Kaymer (GER) 71- 72

144 - Koumei Oda (JPN) 74-70, Nathan Holman  (AUS) 71-73, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 71-73, Scott Hend (AUS) 70-74, Lionel Weber (FRA) 75-69

145 - David Lipsky (USA) 71-74, Richard T. Lee (CAN) 69-76, Hung Chien-lao (TPE) 73-72, Anthony Kang (USA) 72-73, Berry Henson (USA) 73-72, Wang Jeung-hun (KOR) 73-72, Kang Sung-hoon (Kor) 75-70

Selected:

146 - Bubba Watson (USA) 76-70, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 72-74, Charlie Wi (KOR) 74-72, Thanyakon Khrongpha 69-77

148 - Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 76-72

154 - Victor Dubuisson (FRA)  75-79, Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 75-79