Hua Hin: Scott Hend and Pelle Edberg emerged as the new leaders at the US$1.75 million True Thailand Classic presented by Chang yesterday but defending champion Andrew Dodt and Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat crashed out at the halfway mark.
Sweden’s Pelle Edberg hits a shot in the second round yesterday.
Big-hitting Hend of Australia sank an eagle at the second hole to go with six birdies for an eight-under-par 64 at Black Mountain Golf Club that gave him a two-round total of 12-under 132 and a share of lead with Edberg of Sweden, who carded a 67.
Local hopeful Panuphol Pittayarat was in third place following a flawless 65 which put him just one shot off the pace.
Overnight leader Peter Uihlein of the US settled for a 71 to tie compatriot David Lipsky (68), Hua Hin-based Scot Simon Yates, South African Shaun Norris (68) and Welshman Rhys Davies (68) for fourth on 135.
The cut was made at 142 and prominent among those leaving the field early were Dodt of Australia, who fired a second straight 73, and Kiradech, whose improved second-round 69 could not come to his rescue. Kiradech had a 74 in the first round.
Seeking his second European Tour title after the 2014 Hong Kong Open, the 42-year-old Hend has so far not shown any signs of jetlag after a long haul from Florida where he played at the WGC-Cadillac Championship.
He arrived Thailand at 1am on Wednesday and played the pro-am later on the same morning.
Hend said: “It is a bit warm but this is something golfers have to deal with.”
“I was very disappointed with my performance last week. I played atrociously, drove the ball poorly, putted poorly. Did everything poorly and my scores showed. Plus 21 or 22 for four rounds,” commented Hend on his performance in the WGC event at Droal where he finished 63rd in the 66-player field.
“I just want to do something for myself [this week],” he said.
Thailand has been a special place for the Australian who won the Chiangmai Golf Championship 2013 and was joint second at the Classic here last year.
Hend added: “It’s good to get into position once again for the weekend.
“I like this course. I like the area. I like coming to Thailand as it’s a friendly place. Always have a pretty good time.
“After a lacklustre effort last week in the WGC in Miami, we’ll see what will come now.
“I just changed the driver again this week. I have a few driver worries and I’ve been messing about a little bit. I used a different putter everyday around Doral as I wasn’t putting very well either.”
Edberg, who started the round a stroke behind the leader, made the turn at 33 with three birdies and despite dropping a shot each on the 11th and 14th, he finished strongly with successive birdies on the next three holes.
“It is a strong finish to get birdies at the 15th, 16th and 17th. I three-putted the last hole unfortunately for a par. Overall it was a good day,” said Edberg, ranked 225th in the world.
“The fairways were a bit softer at the beginning but later in the day, they became a bit firmer.”
Seeking his maiden title on the tour, Edberg said it was good to have his name on the leader board but he might get more nervous in the last two rounds.
Third-placed Panuphol said his short game was the key to his impressive bogey-free round of 65 yesterday.
“I didn’t hit my tee shots or irons well today but my short game was good,” said Panuphol.
“[The greens] were a fraction faster and rolling really good. All you needed was to get a good line and a good speed for the ball to go into the hole.
“I practise a lot here, so I know.”
Panuphol, 23, has a vivid memory his hole-in-one at the 192-yard, par-three 14th at the same course last year.
“I birdied 14 again yesterday [Thursday]. I love coming here. Hua Hin is like my second home. I like the atmosphere and I like the golf course and people.”
“Despite all that, I never play well and never score well here,” said Panuphol, who missed the cut by four shots last year.
As for the other Thais, Piya Swangarunporn was tied for ninth on eight-under after scoring a 68 yesterday.
World No.37 Thongchai Jaidee had a second 69 in a row for a 138 total to share 16th spot with compatriots Somsak Kaopratum (68), Chapchai Nirat (68) and Prom Meesawat (70), and Dutchman Joost Luiten (68).
Hua Hin-native Prayad Marksaeng (73) and Thanyakorn Khrongpha (70) were on 140 at the second edition of the tournament, co-sanctioned by the European and Asian tours.
Scott Jamieson, who fired an opening round 66, made the cut by tallying exactly 142.
Also failing to qualify for the weekend were Thai players Pariya Junhasavasdikul (76), Thaworn Wiratchant (72) and Phachara Khongwatmai (72), Finland’s Mikko Ilonen (72), Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez (71) and English pro Simon Dyson (73).
Australia’s Scott Hend during the second round.