Holder Wichayanon leads Singapore’s Yap by one
Wichayanon Chothirunrungrueng stayed ahead after the second round of the Thailand Amateur Open 2017 at Bangkok’s Panya Indra Golf Club yesterday.
Defending champion Wichayanon, 20, shot a four-under-par 67 for an eight-under 134 total to lead by one shot from Singapore’s Jesse Yap, who fired the day’s lowest round of seven-under 64.
Wichayanon shot seven birdies on holes 1,4, 8, 9, 11, 14 and 16 while conceded three bogeys on 10, 17 and 18.
Wichayanon was a member of the national men’s team that won a silver medal at the SEA Games in Malaysia in August and successfully retained the Putra Cup title in Indonesia last month.
Thanapol Apinyawutthikul was third on six-under 136 after a 66.
Kritchayapol Sinchai, who shot a 67, was fourth on 137.
“After two days I still managed to keep the lead and I’m happy about that,” said Wichayanon.
“I kept the ball in the fairways on most of my front nine holes and made some great putts. Things didn’t quite work out for me on the back nine and I dropped two shots on the closing holes.
“Overall I’m quite pleased I’m still in the lead. I will do my best over the next two days.”
In the women’s event, Kan Bunnabodee surged into a three-shot lead after a oneunder 70. Kan, who helped Thailand retain the Kartini Cup in Indonesia last month, fired four birdies against three bogeys for a four-under 138 total.
Shih Cheng-Hsuan (68) of Taiwan and Lu Yu Wen (69) of China shared second place on one-under 141. Overnight leader Phisitkhwan Pooratanaopa slipped to joint seventh place on one-over 143 after a 76.
The tournament features 126 amateur golfers from 17 countries — Bahrain, Brunei, China, Guam, Hong Kong, Iran, India, Japan, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, the UAE, the US, Vietnam and Thailand.
LEADING SECOND ROUND SCORES
(Par-71)
Men
134 — Wichayanon Chothirunrungrueng (THA) 67-67 135 — Jesse Yap (SIN) 71-64
136 — Thanapol Apinyawutthikul (THA) 70-66
137 — Kritchayapol Sinchai (THA)
140 — Kim Joo-Hyung (KOR) 70-67
Women
138 — Kan Bunnabodee (THA) 68-70
141 — Shih Cheng-Hsuan (TWN) 73-68, Lu Yu Wen (CHN) 72-69
142 — Taglao Jeeravivitaporn (THA) 73-69, Chang Wi-chia (TWN) 73-69, Sitarnart Singhanart (THA) 70-72