2006 Bangkok Airways Open - Round 2: Lu on target to retain title at halfway

Defending champion Lu Wen-teh renewed his love affair with the Bangkok Airways Open after soaring into a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage on Friday.

The Chinese Taipei veteran mastered windy conditions to shoot a three-under-par 68 at tough Santiburi Samui Country Club, edging ahead of home favourite Prayad Marksaeng, who carded a 70 with a birdie on his last hole.

Singapore's Mardan Mamat, enjoying the warmth of Samui after a stint in Europe, kept up his title bid in the US$300,000 Asian Tour event with a 69. Overnight leader Iain Steel stumbled to a 78 which included a quadruple bogey but compatriot Airil Rizman Zahari charged into the frame in fourth with a tidy 68, highlighted by an eagle.

"I'm feeling good," said Lu, who recently shook off a knee injury. "I'm playing well and I've stayed out of trouble so far. I like this place as the course is not overly long and we're on a beautiful island."

The undulating par-71 Santiburi layout, nicknamed the Samui Beast, bared its teeth once more with winds leading scores to soar. Lu, who leads on six-under-par 136, wasn't troubled, shooting birdies on the fifth, seventh and ninth holes from inside eight feet. He birdied the 13th from four feet but gave a stroke back after missing the green at the next.

"Scores are high as the wind is affecting the players. It's tough. My chances of winning will depend on whether it blows or not at the weekend. Either way, I feel comfortable," said the 43-year-old, currently 28th on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit.

Prayad rammed home two long putts to raise his hopes after a five-birdie round, draining a 25-footer on the seventh and a 30-foot curler on the 18th. He was also delighted to birdie the notorious par three 12th hole, nailing a four iron to two feet with "my shot of the day."

"I didn't chip too well but my putter saved me," said the five-time winner on the Asian Tour. "I feel I have a chance to challenge and I'll aim for fairways and greens at the weekend to play it safe."

Mardan is bidding for a second title after his historic victory at the Osim Singapore Masters earlier this season, which made him the first Singaporean to win a European Tour-sanctioned event.

He recently returned from a three-week playing stint in Europe, although admittedly he struggled in the cold to miss all three cuts. "It was a steady round except for the last hole which I had to save bogey. I’m not striking it too good but my putting has been steady. I made a lot of putts from six feet over the last two days," said Mardan, who swapped four birdies with two bogeys.

"I'm happy to be back. I missed the Asian weather. I can just put on just one layer of clothes here instead of three or four when I'm in Europe."

Airil, 28, put together a round that included one eagle, three birdies and two bogeys and conceded luck played a big part in his round. "It was one of my luckiest days," said Airil. "After making the turn, I got three lucky bounces which kept my ball in play and I saved par. I hit some poor shots well right that was heading into trouble."

His eagle was a stunner. After ripping a drive down the middle of the ninth fairway, the slightly built Malaysian nailed a three iron which stopped five feet from the pin for a simple tap-in eagle. "That was really nice," he said.

After winning Malaysia's Order of Merit for the first time last year, Airil is hoping to step up into the big leagues. Over the past month, he has shown some promise but have not been able to close the deal. "I've been in the top-15 quite regularly entering the weekend in my last four events but I have not been able to finish strongly. I'm going to tell myself to relax tomorrow and I hope to do better here," he said.

Canadian Rick Gibson, with his 14-year-old son Karl as caddie for the first time, remained in contention after a 72 for joint fifth place on 141 with last season's Asian Tour number one Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, who carded a 73, and Chawalit Plaphol (70).

Two-time Asian number one Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand carded a 73 for 32nd place on 147 to safely make the cut set at 151, which saw 71 players progress into the weekend rounds. Thai amateur Anujit Hirunrattanakorn was amongst those who made the cut.

Leading second round scores

136 - Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 68-68

137 - Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 67-70

139 - Mardan Mamat (SIN) 70-69

140 - Airil Rizman Zahari (MAS) 72-68

141 - Rick Gibson (CAN) 69-72, Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 71-70, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 68-73

142 - P. Gunasegaran (MAS) 73-69, Prom Meesawat (THA) 72-70, Unho Park (AUS) 71-71, Lee Sung (KOR) 71-71

143 - Somkiat Srisanga (THA) 71-72, Michael Wright (AUS) 73-70, Jason King (AUS) 73-70, Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 73-70

144 - Anthony Kang (USA) 73-71, Yasin Ali (ENG) 75-69, S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND) 73-71, Iain Steel (MAS) 66-78

145 - Park Jun-Won (KOR) 72-73, Rashid Ismail (MAS) 75-70, Ted Oh (KOR) 72-73, Wang Ter-chang (TPE) 72-73, Simon Griffiths (ENG) 72-73

146 - Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 72-74, Andrew Pitts (USA) 70-76, Hironori Yoshida (JPN) 73-73, Udorn Duangdecha (THA) 72-74, Gaurav Ghei (IND) 71-75, Li Chao (CHN) 70-76, Gerald Rosales (PHI) 72-74

June 9, 2006

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