Jyoti Randhawa of India charged into contention with a flawless seven-under-par 65 to seize a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the US$750,000 Chiangmai Golf Classic presented by PTT on Friday.
The 2002 Asian Tour number one birdied the last two holes from close range for an 11-under-par 133 total, which was one shot ahead of local talent Thanyakon Khrongpha, who matched Randhawa’s 65 after rolling in a 15-foot eagle on the last hole.
Scott Barr of Australia and Rashid Khan of India signed for matching 69s to share third place on 137 while Major champion Jason Dufner fired a 69 to trail the leader by five shots at the picturesque Alpine Golf Resort Chiangmai.
“I played too good. This is the best I’ve played in a long, long time. I fired on all cylinders today. My driving, second shots and putting were good. I only had one missed putt and the rest were a great round of golf,” said the 42-year-old Randhawa.
A well-rested Randhawa, an eight-time Asian Tour winner but not since winning the 2009 Thailand Open, was excited to be in contention after taking a two-week break to recover from a ‘tennis elbow’.
“I’m more focused now and what I’ve been training in the year and a half is now falling into place. I got a tennis elbow and I rested it for two weeks. The rest has helped. Golf is a funny game and anything can happen. I’m just happy that I’m there for the fight,” said Randhawa.
The lanky 24-year-old Thanyakon, who is aiming for a first Asian Tour win, said his round of six birdies and one eagle ‘exceeded his expectations’.
“I used to feel discouraged when I don’t play well but now my mental game is much stronger. My round exceeded my expectations. I had expected to hit about 10 fairways but I hit 14 instead which really helps because of the thick rough this week,” said Thanyakon.
Australia’s Barr made a small change in his swing earlier in the week to accommodate a minor hip injury to give himself a fighting to win a first Asian Tour title.
“My hip gets a bit tired. It gets very stiff and the way I was swinging put a lot of pressure on my right hip. The pain comes and goes so I made a change earlier in the week and it is starting to help. This is how I want to swing in the future,” said Barr.
Playing in his fourth straight week after recovering from a neck injury, Dufner, the 2013 PGA Championship winner, was one-over after four holes but bounced back brilliantly with two birdies in each half.
“I struggled with my putter a little bit because of a combination of bad speed. When you can’t judge the speed, you kind of second guess on the greens. A low score is out there if you can keep the ball on the fairways,” said Dufner, who is making his debut in Thailand this week.
The Chiangmai Golf Classic is supported by PTT Public Company Ltd, Advanced Info Service Plc, Toyota Motor Thailand Co.,Ltd., Siam Commercial Bank PCL, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Provincial Government of Chiangmai, Chiangmai Provincial Administrative Organisation, The Northern Golf Resort Association, Alpine Golf Resort Chiangmai, Thai Beverage Public Company Limited, Italian-Thai Development PLC, Advanced Information Technology Public Company Ltd, Sport Authority of Thailand, CAT Telecom Public Company Ltd, TOT Public Company Ltd, Fenix Apparel and Accessories Co. Ltd., Ricoh (Thailand) Limited, Diageo Moet Hennessy Thailand, Panasonic Siew Sales (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Jebsen & Jebsen Technology, Hytera Communications Corporation Limited, Oakley, Furama Chiangmai and Standard Tour Co.,Ltd.
Scores after round 2 of the Chiangmai Golf Classic 2014 being played at the par 72, 7481 Yards Alpine Golf Resort course (a- denotes amateur):
133 – Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 68-65.
134 – Thanyakon KHRONGPHA (THA) 69-65.
137 – Scott BARR (AUS) 68-69, Rashid KHAN (IND) 68-69.
138 – Jason DUFNER (USA) 69-69, MO Joong-kyung (KOR) 69-69, George GANDRANATA (INA) 66-72.
139 – Bryce EASTON (RSA) 68-71, Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 69-70, Jbe KRUGER (RSA) 73-66, Mardan MAMAT (SIN) 67-72, HUNG Chien-yao (TPE) 71-68, Sutijet KOORATANAPISAN (THA) 70-69.
140 – Nicholas FUNG (MAS) 68-72, Mithun PERERA (SRI) 70-70, Sattaya SUPUPRAMAI (THA) 66-74, Kalem RICHARDSON (AUS) 71-69, LIN Wen-tang (TPE) 69-71, Paul PETERSON (USA) 70-70, Rory HIE (INA) 70-70.
141 – Udorn DUANGDECHA (THA) 72-69, NOH Seung-yul (KOR) 71-70, Scott HEND (AUS) 72-69, Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 70-71, LU Wei-chih (TPE) 68-73, Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA) 71-70, Daisuke KATAOKA (JPN) 70-71, Adam GROOM (AUS) 72-69, Shubhankar SHARMA (IND) 71-70, Chikka S (IND) 69-72.
142 – WANG Jeung-hun (KOR) 70-72, Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA) 71-71, CHOO Tze Huang (SIN) 70-72, Miguel TABUENA (PHI) 70-72, Danny CHIA (MAS) 74-68, LEE Sung (KOR) 72-70, Berry HENSON (USA) 75-67, Suppakorn UTHAIPAT (THA) 72-70, Simon YATES (SCO) 71-71, Poosit SUPUPRAMAI (THA) 74-68.
143 – Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 73-70, Brett MUNSON (USA) 73-70, Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 68-75, Sam BRAZEL (AUS) 75-68, Richard T. LEE (CAN) 71-72, Michael TRAN (VNM) 72-71, Piya SWANGARUNPORN (THA) 74-69.
144 – Mathiam KEYSER (RSA) 69-75, Grant JACKSON (ENG) 74-70, Chiragh KUMAR (IND) 69-75, Pijit PETCHKASEM (THA) 71-73, Jack MUNRO (AUS) 74-70, Unho PARK (AUS) 71-73, Wolmer MURILLO (VEN) 70-74, Martin ROMINGER (SUI) 73-71, M DHARMA (IND) 70-74, Jay BAYRON (PHI) 74-70, LIN Wen-hong (TPE) 70-74, Kieran PRATT (AUS) 71-73, Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 71-73, Anthony KANG (USA) 74-70, Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA) 70-74.
