Thai
veteran Boonchu Ruangkit fired a second successive four-under-par
68 in the 10th Myanmar Open today as he looks to prevent in-form
compatriot Thongchai Jaidee from back-to-back wins.
The 48-year-old Boonchu, a former two-time winner here, leads by
one stroke on eight-under-par 136 from Thongchai at the halfway
stage of the US$200,000 Asian Tour event at Yangon Golf Club.
Defending champion Thongchai struggled on the sun-baked greens,
needing 31 putts en route to a second round 70 for second place
while last year's runner-up Andrew Pitts of the United States was
a further two strokes back after a two under round.
Pakistan's Muhammad Munir, Chawalit Plaphol of Thailand, Chinese
Taipei veteran Lu Wen-teh and American Mike Cunning share fourth
place on 140, four behind the new leader.
Boonchu sank five birdies against a lone bogey and was looking
forward to an enticing head-to-head duel with Thongchai, who successfully
retained his Carlsberg Malaysian Open crown last Sunday.
"I played alright, not bad for an old man," said Boonchu,
who was victorious in Myanmar in 1996 and 1997. "The greens
are firming up and it's getting harder to get the ball close to
the hole.
"Thongchai is still the man to beat out here on this course.
This is like his home course and he's so confident now," added
the reigning Thai Open champion.
Thongchai, the joint overnight leader, failed to buy a putt despite
hitting 14 greens in regulation. He turned in two-under with close
range birdies on 17 and 18 but dropped a shot on the second hole
with a wayward tee shot that landed amongst trees. But he bounced
back with his third birdie of the day at the par five sixth.
"I couldn't get the putts in," lamented Thongchai. "Some
the lines were a bit tricky. I hit some good shots but couldn't
make a score. It'll be good to play with Boonchu and I'm not surprised
that he's playing well as he also likes this course."
While Thongchai, ranked 58th in the world, is pushing hard for
another victory which will enhance his prospects of earning a US
Masters slot in April, he expects the third round pairing with his
idol to be a relaxed affair. "We'll have some fun and I'm sure
it'll be like one of our practice rounds. I'm one shot back and
still have a chance of winning."
Joint first round leader Matthew Cort of England struggled to a
76 which included two double bogeys as he dropped off the leaderboard
on 143. Indian duo Mukesh Kumar and Arjun Singh lie in joint eighth
place on 141 with Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, Swede Olle Nordberg
and Aussie Scott Strange.
Newcomer Hla Myo remained as Myanmar's best performer, shooting
a 71 for a two-day score of 143 in equal 22nd position.
Singapore's Mardan Mamat, meanwhile, secured the eighth and final
automatic spot in the Asian Team to face Japan in April's Visa Dynasty
Cup at Mission Hills, China. His closest challenger Thammanoon Srirot
of Thailand missed the halfway cut after adding a 75 to his opening
77.
"It's good to know that I've made it," said Mamat, who
will become the first player from Singapore to feature in the Ryder
Cup-style shootout. "I never expected Thammanoon to miss the
cut here," added the Singaporean, who has a two-day total of
146 to make the weekend play by two strokes.
Thammanoon, who holed the winning putt two years ago against Japan,
said wayward driving was to blame for his early exit from the Myanmar
Open. "I was just going left and right from off the tee. It
looks like I will have to depend on a captain's pick now,"
said Thammanoon, who is ninth on the current team ranking.
Asia's non-playing captain Hsieh Min-nan will name his four wild
cards after the completion of the Myanmar Open. Thongchai, Boonchu,
Prayad Marksaeng, Thaworn Wiratchant, India's Jyoti Randhawa, Korean
duo Charlie Wi and Mo Joong-kyung and Mamat earned the top-eight
automatic slots.
Leading second round scores
136 - Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 68-68
137 - Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 67-70
139 - Andrew Pitts (USA) 69-70
140 - Muhammad Munir (PAK) 71-69, Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 73-67,
Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 70-70, Mike Cunning (USA) 71-69
142 - Scott Barr (AUS) 73-69, Jason Dawes (AUS) 69-73, Rick Gibson
(CAN) 76-66, Richard Moir (AUS) 71-71, Airil Rizman Zahari (MAS)
71-71, M. Sasidaran (MAS) 74-68, Anthony Kang (USA) 71-71, Ted Oh
(KOR) 71-71, Edward Loar (USA) 72-70
143 - Hla Myo (MYN) 72-71, Ashok Kumar (IND) 75-68, Digvijay Singh
(IND) 70-73, Koji Katoh (JPN) 71-72, Danny Chia (MAS) 72-71, Matthew
Cort (ENG) 67-76, Jochen Lupprian (GER) 70-73
144 - P. Gunasegaran (MAS) 70-74, Shiv Kapur (IND) 72-72, Gaurav
Ghei (IND) 73-71, Yeh Chang-ting (TPE) 68-76, Chen Tze-chung (TPE)
74-70, Adam Fraser (AUS) 72-72, Min Naing (MYN) 74-70, Larry Austin
(AUS) 71-73, Adam Le Vesconte (AUS) 72-72, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA)
75-69, Felix Casas (PHI) 76-68, Ross Bain (SCO) 69-75
Thai
veteran Boonchu Ruangkit fired a second successive four-under-par
68 in the 10th Myanmar Open today as he looks to prevent in-form
compatriot Thongchai Jaidee from back-to-back wins.
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