BANGKOK, Thailand: American Johannes Veerman took advantage of his brilliant form to sign for a five-under-par 65 and extend his lead at the halfway stage of the Queen’s Cup hosted by Jaidee Foundation.
The 26-year-old Veerman leads by one shot on a 13-under-par 127 total over defending champion Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand and Miguel Tabuena of Philippines, who carded matching 63s to share second place at the US$500,000 event staged at Legacy Golf Club.
Veerman, chasing a breakthrough victory on the Asian Tour since coming through Qualifying School in 2016, set the tone early in the round when he drilled in a 30-footer for birdie on the first hole.
The 2016 Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit winner returned with a bogey-free round highlighted by five birdies to stay atop the leaderboard at the event hosted by Thai veteran Thongchai Jaidee.
One-time Asian Tour winner Tabuena, who is on a mission to end a three-year title drought on the region’s premier Tour, stayed bogey-free through 36 holes to trail by one shot with Jazz on 128.
The Thai, who is looking to become the first player in the tournament history to successfully defend the Queen’s Cup title, traded nine birdies against two bogeys to put himself in prime position for a weekend charge.
India’s Amardip Malik was thrilled to sign for a 65, which marked his career-best score outside the country, to take fourth place on his own at the 11th edition of the Queen’s Cup.
Thai legend Thaworn Wiratchant posted a 67 to lurk five shots off the pace in tied-fifth with countrymen Natipong Srithong (66), Atiruj Winaicharoenchai (62) and Peradol Panyathanasedh (65).
A total of 75 players made the halfway cut set at one-under-par 139.
Did you know?
– Johannes Veerman is currently ranked 40th on the Habitat for Humanity Standings.
– The American tied the knot earlier in this year in Switzerland, which is also where his wife Angela is based to play professional volleyball.
– Veerman enjoyed a dream rookie season in 2016 when he secured his breakthrough victory on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) which led him to lift the ADT Order of Merit crown.
– Miguel Tabuena needed only 25 putts in his second consecutive bogey-free round which was seven putts better than his opening round.
– Tabuena will be eyeing his second Asian Tour victory this week since claiming his maiden victory at his National Open in 2015. He secured his second Philippine Open title on his local circuit in March this year.
– Tabuena’s best finish in his past six Queen’s Cup appearances was a fifth-place result in July this year.
– Jazz Janewattananond is aiming to become the first player in the history of the event to successfully defend the title.
– Jazz missed only three fairways and found 15 greens-in-regulation in his solid second round of 63.
– Amardip Malik, who is playing under a country exemption, is playing in his first start outside the country this week.
– Malik has one win on his local circuit which came two years after he was diagnosed with a bone defect and was forced to take a seven-month layoff from golf.
– The Indian only needed 24 putts in his round of 65, which also marks his personal-best score outside of India.
– At 52 years young, Thaworn Wiratchant is the oldest player placed in the top-five while Atiruj Winaicharoenchai, 18-years-old, is the youngest player.
– Thaworn has won once on the Japan Senior Tour and once on the Staysure Tour this season.
