Donlaphatchai stays in control in Taiwan
Overnight leader Donlaphatchai Niyomchon of Thailand stayed on track for his maiden Asian Development Tour (ADT) title after battling to an even-par 72 to retain his one-shot edge at the halfway stage of the Taifong Open on Friday.
The 29-year-old Thai, who had opened his campaign with a 67, marked his card with four birdies against two bogeys and a double-bogey in blustery conditions to remain atop the leaderboard with a five-under-par 139 total at the highly acclaimed Taifong Golf Club.
Local prospect Tseng Tzu-hsuan and Thai teenager Atiruj Winaicharoenchai returned with matching rounds of 69s to share second place at the US$160,000 event, which is celebrating its sixth consecutive edition on the ADT this week.
Thailand’s Itthipat Buranatanyarat battled to a 72 to lurk two shots off the pace in fourth place alongside compatriot Peradol Panyathanasedh (69), Japan’s Daisuke Yasumoto (68), Singapore’s Gregory Foo (71), local veteran Lien Lu-sen (68) and Korea’s Seung Park (71).
“I fought well today. It was windy and cold out there, very different from yesterday. I didn’t putt as well as I did yesterday but I’m happy to finish well with two birdies in my last three holes,” said Donlaphatchai, who sits in 94th place on the Order of Merit.
Playing in only his seventh start on the ADT this year, Donlaphatchai needs a victory at the season finale to give himself a chance at breaking into top-seven on the final rankings and secure his Asian Tour card for 2020.
Tseng, also chasing for his first ADT win, said: “I hit a lot of greens today. That helped a lot. I made 30 putts in total but I think it’s still alright because the greens are really challenging here. The pin positions are difficult too. I am happy with the way I played today.”
Atiruj, who has claimed three top-five finishes on the ADT this season to sit in 24th place on the Order of Merit, kept up his chase for an Asian Tour card by firing five birdies against two bogeys for a commendable 69.
“I hit it close to the pins and I hit a lot of greens. It was windy and the greens are firm. The game’s trending in the right direction. I hit a very good second shot on the par-five 17th to about 10 feet. Missed the eagle chance there but it’s still a good hole,” said the 19-year-old, who is making his debut appearance in the Taifong Open this week.
A total of 63 players, including one local amateur, survived the halfway cut set at four-over-par 148 in the popular event, which was inaugurated as the richest event on the ADT in 2014.
Defending champion Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei and ADT Order of Merit leader Naoki Sekito of Japan made the cut right on the mark after registering identical rounds of 74 at the 2019 ADT season finale.
The leading seven players, not otherwise exempted, on the final 2019 ADT Order of Merit following the conclusion of the Taifong Open on Sunday will earn their Asian Tour cards for the 2020 season.
Leading round two scores:
139 - Donlaphatchai Niyomchon 67 72
140 - Tseng Tzu-hsuan 71 69, Atiruj Winaicharoenchai 71 69
141 - Seung Park 70 71, Itthipat Buranatanyarat 69 72, Gregory Foo 70 71, Lien Lu-sen 73 68, Peradol Panyathanasedh 72 69, Daisuke Yasumoto 73 68
142 - Lee Chieh-po 71 71, Lin Wen-ko 70 72, Wang Wei-lun 73 69, Brett Munson 74 68
143 - Chinnarat Phadungsil 71 72, David Shen 68 75
144 - Koh Deng Shan 74 70, Nirun Sae-Ueng 72 72, Wolmer Murillo 68 76, Sung Mao-chang 71 73, Huang Yi-tseng 75 69, Kwanchai Tannin 71 73, Ho Yu-cheng 71 73
145 - Yeh Wei-tze 75 70, Kazuki Higa 70 75, Yeh Yu-chen 72 73, Naras Luangphetcharaporn 75 70, Tarik Can 74 71, Sam Gillis 74 71
146 - Lin Yung-lung 74 72, Sattaya Supupramai 74 72, Jesse Yap 73 73, Abdul Hadi 71 75, Hung Chien-yao 70 76, Matt Killen 75 71
