Chavalit backs Asia to deliver Shanghai surprise

The smooth-swinging Thai stayed in the hunt at the halfway stage of the US$5 million event with a second round of two-under-par 70, which left him three shots behind leader India's Jyoti Randhawa.

With some of the world's best players including Major champions Tiger Woods, Retief Goosen and Michael Campbell chasing Randhawa, Chawalit, a two-time Asian Tour winner, believes Asia could serve up another triumph to emulate Jeev Milkha Singh's outstanding victory at the Volvo Masters in Spain two weeks ago.

"There are so many good players out here and it's great to see Jyoti leading the Asian challenge after two good rounds. It's good for Asian golf as this is such a big event. All of us want to play well this week and show what we can do," said Chawalit.

After two rounds, overnight leader Randhawa, Asia's number one in 2002 and winner of the recent Hero Honda Indian Open, leads the elite field by one stroke, with South Africa's Goosen in second place following a 67.

World number one Woods charged up the leaderboard with a course record equalling 64 to lie two off the pace alongside New Zealand's Campbell, the 2005 US Open champion.

Chawalit was also pleased to be in the reckoning in Asia's richest event despite struggling with his own game. "It feels really good to be on the leaderboard. I was struggling with the driver today, hitting it left and right. My irons were also pretty average but I chipped and putted well which saved me. In total I had 13 one-putts which was great," he said.

The Thai is enjoying some good form after finishing in the top-10 in Japan last weekend but knows he must limit the errors at Sheshan International Golf Club. "I started from the 10th tee and turned in 33 after birdies on the 11th, 15th and 18th but I made a good par save on 17. A couple of loose tee shots on the third and fifth saw me drop bogeys, but I managed to pick up a shot on the eighth after hitting a wedge to three feet.

"I hope to keep playing well at the weekend. I just need to try and sort out my swing at the range now and prepare for the weekend."

November 10, 2006