Bhullar joins Rattanon at top

Bhullar joins Rattanon at top

Pawin surges to 3rd spot at Thailand Open after dazzling run on day two

Pawin Ingkhapradit tees off during the second round yesterday.
Pawin Ingkhapradit tees off during the second round yesterday.

Rattanon Wannasrichan maintained the home charge for the US$300,000 Thailand Open yesterday as a second round 69 left him with a joint-share of the leaderboard with India's Gaganjeet Bhullar.

After a blitzing round of 62 on day one, Rattanon endured a more testing day two at the Thai Country Club, hitting four birdies but dropping two shots.

It was enough to keep him level at the top on 11 under for the tournament, shared with Bhullar who dropped a single shot on his way to a tidy 66.

"I didn't putt as well as I did yesterday. Hopefully I can regain my hot putter in the next two rounds. The conditions were pretty much the same today. Everything else was good except for my putter," said Rattanon.

Bhullar said, "I pretty much played the same way like I played yesterday [Thursday]. I gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities. I made six birdies yesterday and six birdies today. I just made one mistake on the eighth hole today and that's about it."

The event is being held under the Asian Tour flag for the first time since it was snapped from them by regional rival OneAsia in 2010 and is packed with home prospects.

Among them is Pawin Ingkhapradit who swept up nine birdies on his way to a round-topping 62, leaving him one shot off the lead.

Panuphol Pittayarat sat a shot back on 133, making it three Thais in the top four after two days of golf.

Eight players are were on 134, including Finland's Janne Kaske who is still in contention despite enduring a horror round marked by five bogeys.

Reigning Order of Merit champion Scott Hend of Australia posted a 67 to move into a share of 18th place on 136. American David Lipsky, after opening with a 74, bounced back with a 67 to make the cut set at one-under 141.

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