Words by Jason Butler
PHUKET, Thailand: Kosuke Hamamoto tagged a three-under par 67 onto an opening 64 to edge one shot clear at the halfway stage of the All Thailand Golf Tour Singha Laguna Open.
“I was able to pick up three birdies this morning to end the first round on minus 6, then to add another three shots this afternoon left me really satisfied.”
Kosuke Hamamoto
On another weather interrupted day, the Thai-Japanese took advantage of the more favourable early conditions to roll in six birdies and set the clubhouse lead at nine-under par.
Kosuke was chased all the way by Pannakorn Uthaipas who pulled alongside the Chiang Mai native for a time late on Friday, but a bogey at 17 – and a round of 67 – dropped him into outright second.
The 20-year-old Kosuke was delighted with his efforts on a marathon second day.
“I was able to pick up three birdies this morning to end the first round on minus 6, then to add another three shots this afternoon left me really satisfied.”
“The course is playing difficult with a swirling wind and narrow fairways, but I was accurate off the tee and strong with the wedge when needed around the greens.”
“And I managed to avoid the rain!”
Witchayanon Chothirunrungrueng was forced to return early Saturday morning to complete his second round.
The promising youngster – who finished tied 26th on his last outing at the Singha Thailand Masters in Chiang Rai – carded a two-under 68 to take outright third three shots of the lead.
Tanapat Pichaikool signed for a 67 to take possession of fourth a further shot back.
The organisers will be hoping for the weather Gods to smile over the weekend, with more rain forecast the event could well be decided over three rounds.
