Strange grabs lead at Thailand Open

AFP
Scott Strange in action during the Thailand Open at Thana City Golf and Sports Club in Bangkok on March 14, 2013

BANGKOK (AFP) –

Scott Strange of Australia in action during the Thailand Open at Thana City Golf and Sports Club in Bangkok on March 14, 2013. Strange shot a seven-under par 65 to grab the clubhouse lead after a rain-interrupted second-round of the $1 million Thailand Open at Thana City Golf & Sports Club near Bangkok.

Australian Scott Strange shot a seven-under par 65 Friday to grab the clubhouse lead after a rain-interrupted second-round of the $1 million Thailand Open at Thana City Golf & Sports Club near Bangkok.

Strange, winner of OneAsia’s first-ever tournament the Volvo China Open five years ago, went one better than his opening round and at the halfway stage sits at 13-under par on the 6,930-yard Greg Norman-designed course.

Japan’s Azuma Yano, Brazilian Lucas Lee, and Australian Terry Pilkadaris had a share of second place in the clubhouse, with eight others a shot further behind — including some still to complete their rounds.

Defending champion Chris Wood, three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington, Koreans Hwang Jung-Gon, Lee Kyoung-Hoon, and Cho Min-Gyu and Thailand’s Thanyakon Khrongpha finished on 11 under.

The round of the day belonged to Thai youngster Thanyakon, who equalled the course record 63 set by Welshman Ian Woosnam in 1996.

Paul McGinley, recently named captain of Europe’s Ryder Cup team for 2014, was forced to withdraw mid-way through the second round with a bad back.

The second round will resume on Saturday with 36 players still to finish before the cut is made.

Completed scores after round 2 (par 72):

131 – Scott Strange (AUS) 66-65

132 – Azuma Yano (JPN) 67-65, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 68-64, Lucas Lee (BRA) 65-67

133 – Chris Wood (ENG) 67-66, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 67-66, Lee Kyoung-Hoon (KOR) 67-66, Thanyakon Khrongpha (THA) 70-63, Hwang Jung-Gon (KOR) 65-68, Cho Min-Gyu (KOR) 65-68

134 – David Oh (USA) 69-65, Hu Mu (CHN) 67-67, Yoshinori Fujimoto (JPN) 67-67

135 – Masamichi Uehira (JPN) 70-65, Michael Hendry (NZL) 71-64, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 68-67, David Smail (NZL) 69-66, Simon Yates (SCO) 66-69, Scott Laycock (AUS) 71-64.