Thai cousins leave field trailing

Thailand 's Thammanoon Srirot and Chawalit Plaphol threatened to reduce the Bangkok Airways Open into a two-horse race after surging clear of the pack on Friday.

Thammanoon, a five-time winner in Asia, soared on eagle's wings to produce the day's best of six-under-par 65 at Santiburi Samui Country Club and open up a one-shot lead over his cousin, Chawalit, who stumbled late in the round for a 68.

Veteran Lu Wen-teh of Chinese Taipei and Filipino Frankie Minoza are five shots behind Chawalit in the US$200,000 Asian Tour event after rounds of 69 and 70 respectively while last season's Asian number one Thongchai Jaidee was a further shot back with Aussie Jarrod Lyle.

"I putted strongly today and I eagled the seventh hole which got my round going," said a delighted Thammanoon, who splits his playing schedule between Japan and Asia . "It'll be fun to play with Chawalit tomorrow as we grew up learning golf together."

After a steady start of six straight birdies, Thammannoon, who leads on 10-under-par 132, ignited his round with a superb eagle at the par four seventh. With 39 yards left to the pin, the Thai's sand wedge approach hit the green before rolling into the cup.

A 16-foot birdie conversion on eight was quickly followed up by another eagle on the par five ninth. He ripped a driver down the fairway and nailed a six iron to 25 feet before converting the eagle putt. He sank two more birdies on the 12th and 15th holes and was disappointed to drop a shot at the last hole after his approach shot was blocked by trees.

"This course is very difficult to manage, and I'm actually quite surprised to be 10-under through two rounds. It's more favoured for straight hitters like Chawalit but I've been hitting my irons well since getting a new set last month."

The smooth-swinging Chawalit was cruising on five-under through 15 holes before dropping a bogey on 15 and a costly double bogey on 17. A birdie from 15 feet at the last hole ensured he remained close to Thammanoon.

"I hit two bad drives for those dropped shots late in the round," lamented Chawalit, who is looking for his first Asian Tour title since 1998. "I putted strongly on the front nine and it was good to birdie the last hole. I'm looking forward to playing with my cousin."

Chawalit birdied the second, fifth, seventh, ninth and 13th holes from distances of eight to 15 feet before losing his focus. He hooked a tee shot on 15 for bogey and got into all sorts of trouble on the par five 17. In the end, he needed to hole a 15 footer for a seven. "It was a good double bogey," said Chawalit.

The 45-year-old Minoza returned a 70 for a share of third place on 138 with Lu thanks to birdies on the 10th, 11th, and 17th holes. But dropped shots on the 13th and 18th holes left him a massive six shots behind Thammanoon going into the weekend.

"There are two more rounds, and you'll never know on this course. You can either shoot a good score or a big number," said the veteran, a six-time winner in Japan. "I'm striking the ball alright so I'll just try and keep it steady."

Lu, the man in form with five top-10s in his last six starts on the Asian Tour, battled to a 69 to share third place while last season's Asian Tour number one Thongchai could only add a 70 to his opening 69 and will enter the weekend seven strokes off the pace.

Thaworn Wiratchant, the current Order of Merit leader, tumbled down the leaderboard with a 76 for a 144 total.

The halfway cut was set at 149 with 68 players, including three Thai amateurs, progressing into the weekend rounds.

Leading second round scores

132 - Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 67-65

133 - Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 65-68

138 - Frankie Minoza (PHI) 68-70, Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 69-69

139 - Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 69-70, Jarrod Lyle (AUS) 71-68

140 - Unho Park (AUS) 70-70, Kao Bo-Song (TPE) 70-70, Gaurav Ghei (IND) 69-71, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 69-71, Lu Wei-lan (TPE) 68-72

141 - Shiv Kapur ( IND ) 69-72, Panuwat Muenlek [A] (THA) 70-71, Matt Keegan (AUS) 69-72

Lin Wen-Hong (TPE) 71-70, Bunlue Maneerat (THA) 73-68, Darren Griff (CAN) 69-72

142 - Chen Yuan-Chi (TPE) 69-73, Scott Taylor (USA) 69-73, Robin Hodgetts (AUS) 69-73, Prom Meesawat (THA) 71-71

143 - Dean Alaban (AUS) 72-71, Jochen Lupprian (GER) 70-73, Olle Nordberg (SWE) 72-71

144 - Steven Tan (MAS) 71-73, Pat Giles (AUS) 76-68, Rahil Gangjee (IND) 74-70, Amandeep Johl (IND) 78-66, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 68-76, David Kang (USA) 73-71, Clay Devers (USA) 74-70, S Murthy (MAS) 66-78

145 - Satoshi Shimouchi (JPN) 70-75, Yoshinobu Tsukada (JPN) 72-73, Gilberto Morales (VEN) 69-76, Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 70-75, Chinarat Phandungsilp [A] (THA) 74-71, Andrew Buckle (AUS) 72-73, Uttam Singh Mundy (IND) 72-73, Bryan Saltus (USA) 70-75

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