Seoul: Australia's Wade Ormsby and the Thailand duo of Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Arnond Vongvanij share the lead on seven under par after two rounds in the weather-affected Ballantine's Championship in South Korea. Ormsby (67) and Arnond (69) had completed their rounds on Friday before being joined atop the leaderboard by Kiradech, who completed a round of 66 on Saturday morning on the Blackstone course at Icheon in suburban Seoul.
Kiradech, winner of last month's Maybank Malaysian Open title, was three shots behind the leading duo when poor light halted play on Friday but returned on Saturday to birdie three of his closing seven holes.
"I got experience and a lot of confidence to come here this week," said Kiradech. "But the weather is quite different from Malaysia. I was quite lucky in the second round, the wind was quite quiet. I know I can make a score and my form is good from Malaysia. My driver and putter are both great so hopefully I can stick to the game plan."
Scotland's Stephen Gallacher, also chasing a second European Tour success this season, birdied his closing two holes in a round of 68 to be among five players just one shot behind at six under par.
Also on six under are Sweden's Alexander Noren , England's James Morrison, pint-size South African Jbe Kruger and Spain's Jose Manuel Lara.
Lara birdied four of his closing seven holes, including the last two, in a score of 67 as the 35-year old Valencia golfer targets a third European Tour career win. Louis Oosthuizen, the highest world-ranked played in the event at No. 7, heads into the third round among a big group on four under par and only three shots from the lead as the South African chases his second success this season.
New European Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley ended a run of three missed cuts this year to birdie his last hole in a score of 70 for a one under par tally.
However missing the level par cut by two shots was Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin, winner of last week's Spanish Open title in Valencia, and after being involved in a record-equalling nine-hole play-off. Also cut from the event was the reigning Scottish Open champion, Jeev Milka Singh of India.
Comments
0 comment