Poom has a blast at Thai Country Club
Pro joins amateur Natthaphat, 19, at top
>> CHACHOENGSAO: Thailand’s Poom Pattaropong rode a hot putter to sign for a six-under-par 65 and grab a share of the lead with local amateur Natthaphat Harnchokchaiskul at the halfway stage of the Thailand Open yesterday.
The 24-year-old Poom, who came through the Asian Tour qualifying school last December, nailed eight birdies against two bogeys to equal the two-day efforts of overnight leader Natthaphat (70) on 134 at the Thai Country Club.
The leading duo held a one-shot advantage over home favourite Prom Meesawat (67), Australia’s Andrew Martin (68), and India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu (67) and SSP Chawrasia (67) at the US$300,000 Asian Tour event.
Newly crowned Taiwan Masters champion Suradit Yongcharoenchai of Thailand continued his fine form by carding a 68 to move within two shots off the lead.
He sat in seventh place alongside countryman Charng-Tai Sudsom (68) and Taiwan’s Wang Wei-hsuan (69) on 135.
KAPUR’S GREAT LEAP
India’s Shiv Kapur, who opened his campaign with a 74, took a great leap forward after creating a new course record on the par-71 set-up with his blistering round of 63.
“It was a combination of hitting the ball well and making a few putts, which didn’t happen for me yesterday. I would probably rank this course one of my top-three favourites and that’s the reason why I came to play this week,” said Kapur.
“I have had a pretty poor season so far. I have been missing a lot of halfway cuts by a shot,” he said.
The 37-year-old Kapur settled three shots off the pace in joint 10th position with a host of players which include American John Catlin (70) and Phachara Khongwatmai (72) of Thailand.
“I was feeling nervous, playing with all the professionals out here. I was more nervous than I was yesterday,” said the 19-year-old Natthaphat, who is playing in his first Asian Tour event and also his first Thailand Open.
“The conditions were tough today. It was windy out there. I got off to a bad start with a bogey on the 10th but luckily, I managed to bounce back with a birdie on 11th.
I am happy to stay in the lead.
“I told myself to slow down my pace and I talked a lot to my caddie too. I just tried to relax and not think about the scores. I will just play my own game tomorrow and see how it goes. I just want to learn as much as I can and earn some good experience this week.”
Poom said: “Everything just went my way today. I holed a lot of putts. My approach shots were good as I was striking it close from the fairways.
“I will stick to my game plan tomorrow and just try to have fun out there because I’ve never been in this position before.”
LEADING SECOND ROUND SCORES
(par-71, am - denotes amateur)
134 — Poom Pattaropong (THA) 69-65, Natthaphat Harnchokchaiskul (THA, am) 64-70 135 — Prom Meesawat (THA) 68-67, Andrew Martin (AUS) 67-68, Ajeetesh Sandhu (IND) 68-67, SSP Chawrasia (IND) 68-67
136 — Wang Wei-hsuan (TPE) 67-69, CharngTai Sudsom (THA) 68-68, Suradit Yongcharoenchai (THA) 68-68
137 — Peradol Panyathanasedh (THA) 69-68,
Raththee Sirithanakunsak (THA) 69-68, Shiv Kapur (IND) 74-63, John Catlin (USA) 67-70,
Nopparat Panichphol (THA) 70-67, Wang Wei-lun (TPE) 70-67, Phachara Khongwatmai (THA) 65-72