Harding holds halfway lead
Overnight pacesetter Raththee slips seven shots off the pace as lightning halts play at Royal Cup
>> PATTAYA: Justin Harding continued his blistering form by carding a second consecutive six-under-par 64 to surge into the halfway lead at the Royal Cup yesterday.
The 32-year-old South African, who started the round one-shot off the lead, brilliantly stayed bogey free for the second straight day at the US$500,000 event.
He fired six birdies to lead by three shots on a 12-under 128 total at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club.
The tournament is being held in honour of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, who celebrates his 66th birthday today.
Asian Tour qualifying school graduate Jack Wilson of Australia recorded his personal best 18-hole score after signing for a 62 to sit in second place on his own.
American Jarin Todd and Japan’s Naoto Nakanishi stayed five shots off the pace in third on matching 133s following respective rounds of 67 and 69 while defending champion Shiv Kapur of India was among those who were a further shot back in fifth following a 68.
Starting from the 10th tee, Harding got off to a flying start with three birdies in his opening five holes before nailing three straight birdies after the turn.
Play was abandoned at 5.41pm due to threats of lightning. A total of 14 players will resume their second round at 7am today with the third round scheduled to start no later than 8am.
“I got off to a nice fast start again and I thought I did pretty decently on the front nine. I made a couple of putts, a long putt from over 15 feet on hole 10,” Harding said.
“I like where I am right now. I find the humidity in the morning bad. The heat just comes and goes depending on how you play. I think when I am playing well I don’t really feel it. If you’re struggling and having to grind then the heat starts to get to you. I just want to keep the bogeys off my card and see if I can continue this run.”
Wilson said: “62 is my personal best score and it’s great to be able to go so low especially with that front nine having a couple of tough holes.
“I’m hitting my driver at every chance because I’m confident with my swing. I agree that you have to be careful with a lot of the holes but if you’re willing to take the risk the reward’s there.”
Overnight leader Raththee Sirithanakunsak shot a 72 for 135.
“I played OK overall except for a triple bogey on hole seven. I hit my first shot into the water and missed the green on my second shot. I had a tough lie and could not make an upand-down. But I recovered well right after the hole. I made a birdie with a
putt from off the green,” said the Thai.
“I am happy with the position I am in and I just want to keep this momentum going. I will keep to my game plan and not thinking about winning yet,”said Raththee.