A four-under round of 68 was enough for Panuphol Pittayarat to retain a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Championship at Laguna National, Singapore, yesterday.
With scoring well down on the first round the Thai player was not able to match his nine-under-par opening effort but still kept his nose in front of the chasing pack.
Pittayarat hit five birdies, losing a shot with a bogey-6 on the second hole and finishing on 13-under 131.
American David Lipsky, Chilean Felipe Aguilar and Australian Scott Hend sit one shot back on 12 under par. Hend’s seven-under 65 was the low round of the day, while Aguilar shot 67 and Lipsky matched Pittayarat’s 68.
Denmark’s Anders Hansen was the top-placed European in the event after 36 holes, sitting two shots off the lead.
Hansen sits alongside Seuk-hyun Baek and Rahil Gangjee.
Scotland’s Scott Jamieson slipped from a share of second to a five-way tie for 10th after following his first-day 64 with a 71.
The 30-year-old Glaswegian had a mixed round including five bogeys, four birdies and a redemptive eagle at the par-5 15th.
Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Chris Wood joined Jamieson on nine under after signing for matching 67s.
Edoardo Molinari missed the cut mark by a single stroke on three under. Aberdonian Richie Ramsay’s hopes of making the cut ended on the front nine as he dropped four shots to finish with a two-over 74 and five over for the tournament.