Panuphol takes flight to share lead at World Super 6
PERTH: Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat catapulted to the top of the leaderboard, firing seven birdies against one bogey to share the second round lead with New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, Australia’s Matthew Griffin and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters at the World Super 6 Perth yesterday.
Starting his round five shots off the lead, Panuphol quickly hauled himself back within one shot of the lead with birdies on the second, fourth, sixth and seventh holes.
He dropped a shot on the eighth but regained his advantage with further gains on nine, 11 and 15 to sign for a six-under-par 66 and an eight-underpar 136 total at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club.
“I told my caddie, we were very lucky to play first in the afternoon yesterday and first today,” said Panuphol, who benefitted from perfect morning conditions. “Playing with less wind, it’s always better.”
Fox, who missed out on the match play stages after losing in a play-off in 2017 and finished a shot out of the playoff 12 months ago, is poised to make his Sunday appearance after he birdied two of his last three holes to grab a share of the one-shot lead.
Pieters, who won the ISPS Handa Melbourne World Cup of Golf for his country last November, got off from the sick bed to move atop the leaderboard with a 66.
American Berry Henson is also hoping to feature in the shoot-out round after carding a 67 to stay two shots back from the leaders in a share of eighth place.
LEADING SECOND ROUND SCORES
(Par-72)
136 — Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) 70-66, Ryan Fox (NZL) 68-68, Matthew Griffin (AUS) 69-67, Thomas Pieters (BEL) 70-66
137 — Richard McEvoy (ENG) 67-70, Robert MacIntyre (SCO) 70-67, Matt Jager (AUS) 69-68
138 — Brad Kennedy (AUS) 68-70, Adrian Otaegui (ESP) 70-68, Berry Henson (USA) 71-67, Ben Campbell (NZL) 67-71, Clement Sordet (FRA) 71-67