BYRNE IN T0P TEN WITH TWO ROUNDS TO GO AT ASIAN Q SCHOOL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Banchory's James Byrne cleared the first hurdle - the halfway cut - with so much ease he never probably considered failing on the second day of the Asian Tour Final Qualifying School at Cha Am, Thailand.
Byrne was one of 109 players with 36-hole tallies of level par 144 or better to progress into the third and fourth rounds.
But one of his winning Walker Cup team-mates at Royal Aberdeen last September, Wentworth's Steve Brown, missed out on 148 (75-73).
James had another impressive day, following up his first-round 69 with a 69 for seven-under-par 137. He is lying joint ninth and in this form he cannot fail to to be one of the leading 40 and ties who will gain playing rights for the Asian Tour at the end of 72 holes.
Highlight of his second round was an eagle 3 at the fifth where he was so long off the tee at this par-5 hole that he was playing only an eight-iron for his second shot. He left it only four feet from the flagstick.
Bryne, whose mother Sue is Singaporean, said the humidity will play an important factor in the next two days.
“Asia is definitely different for me. I’m not used to playing in heat like this. You drink a lot more water, eat well and make sure your diet is good to cope with the heat because you are sweating so much during your round,” said the 23-year-old former Arizona State University student and British amateur championship beaten finalist in 2010.

 Byrne is four shots behind the joint leaders Guy Woodman (England) (64-69) and Arnond Vongvanij (Thailand) (69-64) on 11-under 133.

Simon Dunn, the only other Scot in the field, beat the cut with a shot to spare after rounds of 71 and 72 for 143.

The last two rounds will be played at Springfield Royal. Imperial Lakeview was used as one of the two courses for the first two rounds.

ASIAN TOUR FINAL QUALIFYING SCHOOL

LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Par 144 (2x72)

133 Guy Woodman (Eng) 64 69, Arnond Vongvanij (Thai) 69 64.

134 Yosuke Tsukada (Jap) 63 71.

135 Hamza Amin (Aut) 69 66, Sushi Ishgaki (Jap) 66 69, Martin Romginer (Swi) 72 63.

Selected totals

137 James Byrne (Sco) 68 69, Dale Marmion (Eng) 70 67 (T9).

140 Simon Griffiths (Eng) 68 72 (T28).

141 Niall Turner (Ire) 68 73 (T39).

142 Jake Shepherd (Eng) 71 71, Stephen Lewton (Eng) 68 74 (T53).

143 Yasin Ali (Eng) 71 72, Simon Dunn (Sco) 71 72 (T70).

144 Niall Kearney (Ire) 72 72, Chris Rodgers (Eng) 70 74 (T89).

MISSED THE CUT (144 or better qualified for last two rounds)

147 Neil Reilly (Eng) 75 72, Miles Tunnicliff (Eng) 72 75.

148 Steve Brown (Eng) 75 73.

149 Grant Jackson (Eng) 76 73, Chris Gill (Eng) 76 73.

150 Nick Redfern (Eng) 77 73.

154 James Sheffield (Eng) 72 84.

158 Peter Richardson (Eng) 81 77.

159 Ross Canavan (Eng) 79 80.