BATTLING BOONCHU STAYS ON TRACK FOR E SAN OPEN REPEAT

Nongkhai, Thailand, December 20: Veteran Thai Boonchu Ruangkit drew on his vast experience to grind out a two-under-par 69 in the Singha E San Open on Thursday to maintain his two-shot lead at the halfway mark.

The defending champion is on nine-under-par 133 for the ASEAN Golf Tour event at Victory Park Golf and Country Club and heads countrymen Sattaya Supupramai and Thaworn Wiratchant, the former Asian number one, and Angelo Que of the Philippines.

Sattaya and Que shot matching 65s to charge into contention while Thaworn battled back from a quadruple bogey eight at the sixth hole, where he found water twice after the shaft of his driver broke, to post a 69.

Prayad Marksaeng, who jumped to world number 72 in the latest rankings on the heels of his recent win in the Volvo Masters of Asia, opened with two bogeys but recovered to shoot two-under-69 and is a further shot behind in fifth place alongside Kwanchai Tannin.

The US$50,000 Singha E San Open is the fifth leg of the fledgling ASEAN Golf Tour that was launched to create more playing opportunities for aspiring professionals from Southeast Asia and unearth new talent.

The 51-year-old Boonchu, who shot a career-best 59 on his way to victory last year, opened with a birdie and then reeled off 11 straight pars. He bogeyed the 13th before picking up strokes at the 15th and 16th.

“My iron play was not good today and I did not get close enough to the flags,” said Boonchu, a five-time winner in Asia who has spent 2007 competing on the US Champions Tour.
“I had to use my experience and kept grinding away. I still have passion for the game after all these years and I want to retain the title.”

Que enjoyed a purple patch mid-round with four straight birdies from the ninth hole and two more at the 14th and 16th.

“I was putting way better than yesterday, that is the difference,” said Que, who lifted the Laguna National ASEAN Championship in Singapore, the third leg of the ASEAN Golf Tour.
“I holed a whole bunch of putts – today I had 27 putts compared to 30 in the first round.
“It comes down to putting on this course. It is short with not a lot of rough and most of the players are hitting greens (in regulation).”

Sattaya roared up the leaderboard with a six-under-par 65 in the morning session thanks to a magical birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie run from the 15th hole (he started at the 10th).
“I chipped in at the 15th and holed my bunker shot at the 17th which was great,” said the promising 24-year-old who narrowly missed gaining his card at the Asian Tour qualifying school last week.

“My mental game was good today. Normally when I play in tournaments I cannot handle the pressure but the more experience I get from ASEAN Golf Tour events like this the better I am coping.”

Top amateur Quincy Quek of Singapore, the recent winner of the prestigious Putra Cup, easily made the cut despite an up and down day.

The 20 year old carded five birdies and five bogeys in his even par 71 for a two round total of 143, 10 shots adrift of leader Boonchu.

The cut was made at five-over-par 147 with 57 professionals and 10 amateurs progressing to the weekend play.

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Leading second round scores (a denotes amateur):

Par 71

133 - Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 64-69
135 - Sattaya Supupramai (THA) 70-65, Angelo Que (PHI) 70-65, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 66-69
136 - Kwanchai Tannin (THA) 66-70, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 67-69
138 - Nakul Vijityuthasart (THA) 70-68, Udorn Duangdecha (THA) 68-70
140 – Chuchart Klumklomjit (THA) 72-68, Thanachot Tandavas (THA) (a) 70-70, Metee Siripot (THA) 67-73, Felix Casas (PHI) 74-66, Kiradech Apibalrat (THA) 71-69
141 - Apichat Papituk (THA) (a) 70-71, Manas Saengsui (THA) 71-70, Atthaphon Prathummanee (THA) 70-71, Anis Helmi Hassan (MAS)72-69

Selected scores
143 - Quincy Quek (SIN) (a) 72-71
145 - Mars Pucay (PHI) 74-71, Pipatpong Naewsuk (THA) (a) 72-73
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 (For further information please contact Simon Wilson, Media Manager, World Sport Group – Golf, mobile 65 9127 5419)