SCOTT STRANGE LEADS RAIN-HIT THAILAND OPEN

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ONEASIA TOUR

BANGKOK - Australian Scott Strange, winner of OneAsia's first-ever tournament five years ago, shot a seven-under par 65 on Friday to grab the clubhouse lead after a rain-interrupted second-round of the U.S.$ 1 million Thailand Open at Thana City Golf and Sports Club.

Scott, winner of the Volvo China Open in 2009 when he also claimed OneAsia's first Order of Merit title, went one better than his opening round and is 13 under around the relatively short 6,336-metre (6,930-yard) Greg Norman-designed course. 

Japan's Azuma Yano (67, 65), Brazilian Lucas Lee (65, 67), and Australian Terry Pilkadaris (68, 64) had a share of  second place in the clubhouse, with eight others a shot further behind -- including some still to complete their rounds. 

Defending champion Chris Wood (67, 66), three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington (67, 66), Koreans Hwang Jung-gon (65, 68), Lee Kyoung-hoon (67, 66) and Cho Min-gyu (65,68) and Thailand's Thanyakon Khrongpha (70, 63) finished on 11 under.

The second round will resume on Saturday with 36 players still to finish and a cut hovering around minus five.

 Stakes are high as this event -- and the upcoming Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia PGA Championship from March 28 - 31 -- is co-sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour Organisation, and earnings count to both tour Orders of Merit. 

Strange, who lost his European Tour card last year, credited the lifestyle change for allowing him to spend more time with his family, and he relished the opportunity to play closer to home on OneAsia and the Japan Tour.

"A few things have changed in my life," he said. "I'm not playing as much overseas, and we've got another daughter so I'm trying to be home a bit more. The mind is relaxed and refreshed. 

"I think the Japanese Tour is a great fit -- especially for family life in Australia. You're not flying to Europe for six or seven months of the year and then coming back, so if I'm fortunate enough to win this week, I'll be in Japan and that would be great."

Defending champion Chris Wood (67, 66), three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington (67, 66), Korean Lee Kyoung-hoon (67, 66) and Thailand's Thanyakon Khrongpha (70, 63) were 11 under.

Paul McGinley, recently named captin of Europe's Ryder Cup team, was forced to withdraw mid-way through the second round with a bad back.

 Englishman Wood said he battled tiredness midway through his second round, but a glance at the scores was all it took to shake him out of his lethargy. 

"I was looking at the leader board and using that as motivation, because you've obviously got someone like Harrington, who'll take some chasing, but all the top players on the Japan and OneAsia Tours as well," he said. 

Harrington was happy with his second-round effort as he continued experimenting with different glasses in a bid to find his putting touch.

"These glasses are pair number five. I also have six and seven with me this week, but pair number five seems to be the one making it at the moment," he said. 

"They're all different frames and different lenses. These are a little bit shorter and the screw is a bit long, but they seem to be winning."

The round of the day belonged to Thai youngster Thanyakon, who equalled the course record 63 set by Welshman Ian Woosnam during the Johnnie Walker Super Tour in 1996.

"I hit it close all day as it is a fairly easy course," said the 22-year-old, who only turned pro two years ago but has won twice on the Asian PGA Tour. 

"I am starting to think about winning the tournament now as there are going to be a lot of low scores and I have to be aggressive."

Other Thais in the hunt include Prayad Marksaeng (68, 67) and Thaworn Wiratchant (70, 68). Wisut Artjanawat is eight under with four holes to play.

Overnight leader Koumei Oda slipped to a second round 73 after his sizzling 64 on Thursday.

 

SECOND-ROUND TOTALSPar 144 (2x72) Yardage 6,930
+36 players have still to complete their second 
rounds on Saturday morning after rain interruption
today.  

 

131 - Scott STRANGE (AUS) 66-65.

132 - Azuma YANO (JPN) 67-65, Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 68-64, Lucas LEE (BRA) 65-67.

133 - Chris WOOD (ENG) 67-66, Padraig HARRINGTON (IRL) 67-66, LEE Kyoung-hoon (KOR) 67-66, Thanyakon KHRONGPHA (THA) 70-63, HWANG Jung-gon (KOR) 65-68, CHO Min-gyu (KOR) 65-68.

134 - David OH (USA) 69-65, HU Mu (CHN) 67-67, Yoshinori FUJIMOTO (JPN) 67-67.

135 - Masamichi UEHIRA (JPN) 70-65, Michael HENDRY (NZL) 71-64, Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 68-67, David SMAIL (NZL) 69-66, Simon YATES (SCO) 66-69, Scott LAYCOCK (AUS) 71-64.

136 - PARK Il-hwan (KOR) 70-66, S K HO (KOR) 68-68, Matthew GRIFFIN (AUS) 65-71, Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI) 67-69, Kazuhiro YAMASHITA (JPN) 70-66, PARK Sang-hyun (KOR) 68-68.

137 - PARK Eun-shin (KOR) 70-67, Tomohiro KONDO (JPN) 70-67, Kiyoshi MIYAZATO (JPN) 71-66, Shingo KATAYAMA (JPN) 72-65, Stephen DARTNALL (AUS) 69-68, Koumei ODA (JPN) 64-73, Thammanoon SRIROJ (THA) 70-67, Daisuke MARUYAMA (JPN) 70-67.

138 - Tawan PHONGPHUN (am, THA) 70-68, Norio SHINOZAKI (JPN) 71-67, KIM Dae-sub (KOR) 70-68, Jason NORRIS (AUS) 68-70, KIM Do-hoon 752 (KOR) 70-68, Andre STOLZ (AUS) 69-69, KIM Kyung-tae (KOR) 70-68, Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 70-68.

139 - Udorn DUANGDECHA (THA) 72-67, Pawin INGKHAPRADIT (THA) 71-68, Rattanon WANNASRICHAN (THA) 69-70, Koichiro KAWANO (JPN) 71-68, Hiroshi IWATA (JPN) 70-69, Tetsuji HIRATSUKA (JPN) 70-69, Kaname YOKOO (JPN) 71-68, Katsumasa MIYAMOTO (JPN) 73-66, Brad KENNEDY (AUS) 69-70, David BRANSDON (AUS) 72-67, PARK Jun-won (KOR) 70-69, Yoshikazu HAKU (JPN) 68-71, Somkiat SRISANGA (THA) 70-69, Takashi KANEMOTO (JPN) 68-71, Brad SHILTON (NZL) 73-66, Sattaya SUPUPRAMAI (THA) 68-71.

140 - HONG Soon-sang (KOR) 70-70, Garrett SAPP (USA) 73-67, Jakraphan PREMSIRIGORN (THA) 71-69, LEE Sang-hee (KOR) 72-68, Michael WRIGHT (AUS) 73-67, JOO Heung-chol (KOR) 70-70, Varan ISRABHAKDI (THA) 69-71, Michio MATSUMURA (JPN) 72-68, RYU Hyun-woo (KOR) 73-67, Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 71-69, LEE Han (USA) 71-69, Hidemasa HOSHINO (JPN) 69-71.

141 - Poom SAKSANSIN (am, THA) 70-71, Jamie ARNOLD (AUS) 74-67, Somsak KHAOPRATHUM (THA) 73-68, Jay CHOI (USA) 71-70, ZHANG Lian-wei (CHN) 73-68, Sutijet KOORATANAPISAN (THA) 73-68, Yui UEDA (JPN) 70-71, Gareth PADDISON (NZL) 73-68, JUNG Ji-ho (KOR) 71-70, CHOO Tze-huang (SIN) 74-67, Varut CHOMCHALAM (THA) 70-71, LEE Tae-hee (KOR) 69-72.

142 - Eric MINA (USA) 75-67, Yuta IKEDA (JPN) 72-70, Anthony BROWN (AUS) 74-68, Wasin SRIPATTRANUSORN (THA) 70-72, Shigeru NONAKA (JPN) 72-70.

143 - Akio SADAKATA (JPN) 73-70, Aaron TOWNSEND (AUS) 71-72, Ren HAN (CHN) 70-73, LI Hao-tong (CHN) 71-72, Yusaku MIYAZATO (JPN) 69-74, Taichi TESHIMA (JPN) 74-69, Kim FELTON (AUS) 71-72.

144 - KIM Hyung-sung (KOR) 74-70, Matthew MILLAR (AUS) 73-71, LEE Jung-hwan (KOR) 72-72, MAENG Dong-seop (KOR) 76-68, YUAN Hao (CHN) 75-69.

145 - Masahiro KURAMOTO (JPN) 75-70, Nattawat SUVAJANAKORN (am, THA) 72-73, Pattaraphol KHANTHACHA (THA) 76-69, Kunihiro KAMII (JPN) 71-74.

146 - Annop TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 74-72, Tadahiro TAKAYAMA (JPN) 74-72, PARK Jae-bum (KOR) 78-68, Atthaphon SRIBOONKAEW (THA) 75-71, Chanachok DEJPIRATANAMONGKOL (am, THA) 72-74.

147 - Donlaphatchai NIYOMCHON (THA) 71-76, Somprad RATTANASUWAN (am, THA) 71-76, Ryan HALLER (AUS) 74-73, KIM Seung-hyuk (KOR) 74-73, Danthai BOONMA (am, THA) 78-69, ZHOU Guo-wu (CHN) 79-68.

148 - Supakorn UTAIPAT (THA) 78-70, Steven JONES (AUS) 74-74.

149 - ZHANG Xin-jun (CHN) 75-74.

153 - HUANG Wen-yi (CHN) 78-75.

154 - Kurt BARNES (AUS) 80-74.

158 - Pattalit THANOMSING (THA) 81-77.