WIRATCHANT CONTINUES TO LEAD IN SINGAPORE CLASSIC

NEWS RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR

Singapore, April 6: Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant continued to hold the second round lead by staying atop the leaderboard on 11-under-par through five holes after play was suspended due to darkness at the weather-hit ISPS Handa Singapore Classic on Friday.

Like the opening round, heavy thunderstorms forced play to be suspended for more than three hours. As a result, 77 players will have to resume their round on Saturday morning 7.30am (local time) at Orchid Country Club.
Japan’s Daisuke Kataoka posted a three-under-par 67 to complete his round in 132 and stayed three shots back of the Thai veteran while American Jonathan Moore signed for a 68 to take a share of third place alongside countryman Ben Fox, Spain’s Javi Colomo, Chinnarat Phadungsil of Thailand and Canada’s Ron Harvey Jnr on matching 133s.
Kataoka, who enjoyed four top-10s on the Asian Tour last season, was relieved that he was able to complete his round on a day where the weather conditions was not favourable again.
“You can never tell what’s the weather going to be like here and I’m happy that I managed to complete my rounds and be among the leaders today,” said the Japanese.
Meanwhile Moore, who won the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit last season to earn his main Tour card for 2012, found the play suspensions to be disruptive.
He was however pleased that he could still manage to sign for a good score despite having to play 27 holes today.
“It was tough and it was tiring as it was hard to keep a rhythm. Imagine getting warmed up and then cooling down again. But I felt that I did pretty well, being able to manage all of that,” said Moore.
The 26-year-old American reached the turn in 32 after marking his card with birdies on holes 11 and 16.
He continued his charge with further birdies on holes one and four before dropping two shots on the seventh and eighth holes.
“I made two bogeys coming in and I think it was partly due to the fatigue. But I’m glad that I finished my rounds today and I can get to go back, have a good dinner and sleep,” said Moore.
Australia’s Darren Tan provided one of the day’s highlights when he won a Kia Optima K5 after carding a hole-in-one on the par-three 11^th.
“Totally unexpected! The ball hit the flag and then it hit the bottom of the cup. It was a delayed reaction from me as I didn’t know what I had done. But once it sunk in, it was a little celebration with the boys I was playing with,” said the Australian who signed for a 69 for a share of 53^rd place.

LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Par 140 (2x70)
(Note: Scores reflect current position of players after second-round play was suspended)

1. Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) -11 Thru 5
132 Daisuke Kataoka (JPN) 65-67
133 Jonathan MOORE (USA) 65-68, Javi COLOMO (ESP) 67-66, Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA) 66-67, Ron HARVEY JNR (CAN) 66-67, Ben FOX (USA) 67-66
134 Elmer SALVADOR (PHI) 66-68, LU Wei-chih (TPE) 65- 69, Anton HAIG (RSA) 68-66, HU Mu (CHN) 68-66, David LIPSKY (USA) -6 Thru 6

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