London Myanmar Open
Bagan Golf Resort
Bagan, Myanmar
5th - 8th March 1998

Second Round Report

Second Round Scores
First Round Report
First Round Scores

Huxtable in charge at London Myanmar

Bagan, Myanmar, 6th March 1998 - American Robert Huxtable's winter preparations for the 1998 Omega Tour paid off for the second day running as he fired a bogey free four-under-par 68 to open a three shot lead at the halfway mark of the US$225,000 London Myanmar Open.

Huxtable carded four birdies over the 7,141-yard Bagan Resort layout for a nine-under-par 135 aggregate. He heads the leaderboard from Thailand's Thammanoon Sriroj who also returned a faultless 68, and Carlos Espinosa of Mexico who fired his second 69.

After enduring what he describes as a 'miserable' year on the 1997 Omega Tour, Huxtable returned to the United States during the winter break determined to get his game into shape for the forthcoming season. "I am very satisfied with my score today – I played solid golf and managed to keep patient all the way round, which is important on this course," said the 33-year-old from Cathedral City in California.

"It's definitely more fun coming into the clubhouse and seeing your name at the top of the leaderboard, rather than having to worry about whether or not you have made the cut," said Huxtable.

Huxtable fired two birdies either side of the turn holing a birdie putt from five feet at the third and from 15 feet at the sixth.

Although he saw a four foot birdie effort drift wide on the ninth, he made amends with a 40 foot birdie at the 13th, and chipped to within a foot at the next hole for his fourth birdie.

"Last year I had problems with motivation and it showed in my scores. At first I was practicing real hard but it got me nowhere, and as a result I lost interest in practicing," said Huxtable. "After this year's Omega Tour Qualifying School I went back to the States knowing that conditions here this week were going to be sandy and dry. I spent a lot of time practicing off a similar surface, especially around the greens where I have never been particularly strong and it seems to be paying dividends."

After touring the front half with an impressive four-under-par 32, Thammanoon was on course to challenge Huxtable at the top of the leaderboard. But the unorthodox Thai failed to maintain his momentum after the turn and was relieved to play the back nine in regulation.

"The front nine is short and a little easier than the back nine and I suppose this explains the difference on my card," said Thammanoon winner of the last year's ABN-AMRO Pakistan Masters.

"I had a couple of birdie chances coming home and even though I failed to take advantage I am still very happy with my score because it is not an easy course."

Espinoa meanwhile carded five birdies and made two bogies in his round. The cut was made at five over 149.