Published: Friday February 22, 2013 MYT 9:13:00 PM
Kiradech stars at Myanmar Open
YAMGON: Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat was on course to win a second Asian Tour title after shooting a five-under-par 67 for a two-shot lead in the halfway stage of the Zaykabar Myanmar Open Friday.
The co-overnight leader had problems with his putting but scrambled to a 13-under-par 131 total at the $300,000 event, the curtain-raiser for the 10th Asian Tour season celebrations.
Thailand's Thanyakon Khrongpha and three-time Asian Tour winner Chawalit Plaphol, who shot a 67 and 66 respectively, were two shots behind on 133.
Australia's Marcus Both stormed through the front nine with seven-under-par 29 to tie for the second lowest first-nine score on the Asian Tour.
He finished the day with a 66 to share fourth place with Joonas Granberg (69) of Finland and Hung Chien-yao (67) of Chinese Taipei on 134.
Title-holder Kieran Pratt of Australia was disqualified for arriving late for his tee time while overnight leader Chapchai Nirat of Thailand shot a 72.
Kiradech, who lost a playoff to Pratt last year, is on track to erase that defeat but was taking nothing for granted.
"I've had a lot of experience in the last few years of being in contention and winning," he said in comments supplied by the organisers. "Right now, I'm not thinking about winning yet because it isn't the last day.
"I have two more rounds and I want to do my best and give myself a chance."
The halfway cut was set at three-under-par 141, with a total of 68 players making the weekend rounds.
Leading scores after round two:
131 - Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 64-67
133 - Thanyakon Khrongpha (THA) 66-67, Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 67-66
134 - Joonas Granberg (FIN) 65-69, Marcus Both (AUS) 68-66, Hung Chien-yao (TPE) 67-67
135 - Baek Seuk-Hyun (KOR) 67-68, Darren Beck (AUS) 66-69, Arnond Vongvanij (THA) 68-67
136 - Lionel Weber (FRA) 67-69, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 67-69, Hwang In-Choon (KOR) 66-70, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 64-72 - AFP
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