JAMES BYRNE MISSES MANILA CUT BY THREE

Banchory's James Byrne missed the cut by three shots after two rounds of 77 for a 10 over par tally of 154 in the Asian Tour's Solaire Open at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, Manila in the Philippines today (Friday). Four players share the lead on two-under-par 142. NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ASIAN TOUR Manila, April 12: Chinese Taipei star Lin Wen-tang put himself in position of winning a sixth Asian Tour title for the first time in over three years when he shot a one-over-par 73 in tough scoring conditions at the Solaire Open on Friday.   Lin was tied with Thai duo Thammanoon Sriroj (69) and Kwanchai Tannin (71) and Australia’s Matt Jager (72) on two-under-par 142 on a blustery day at the challenging Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.   Talented Korean Kim Gi-whan, Richard T. Lee of Canada, Elmer Salvador of the Philippines and Pawin Ingkhapradit were a further shot back on 143 at the inaugural US$300,000 Asian Tour event.   The Wack Wack East course bared its fangs on day two as only eight players head into the weekend rounds with under-par scores. Overnight leader Dodge Kemmer of the United States fell victim to the tough conditions when he posted 79 to slip to tied ninth.   Lin uncharacteristically lost his Asian Tour card last year for the first time since 2003 but looks to be back to his best form after reverting to a new putter. His last victory on the Asian Tour was at the 2009 Taiwan Masters.   “I struggled with my putting last year and recently changed to a new putter this week. Even though I had two three putts, I still feel very comfortable with the new putter. Everybody knows these greens are very difficult,” said the 39-year-old.   He spent countless of hours at the gym last year which did not work in his favour as he struggled to maintain his fluid swing.   “I went to the gym quite often and my body was feeling sore. There were times when I struggled to swing. I’m getting older and I thought going to the gym would help me get more power. I was wrong! I decided to stop it completely this year,” said Lin.   Jager, formerly ranked third in the world as an amateur, recovered from a double bogey at the challenging par three eighth hole, when he sank birdies on holes 12 and 15.   “I’m not really surprise to be in contention because people were talking about how difficult this golf course is. You don’t have to do much wrong to get the bogeys,” said the Asian Tour Qualifying School graduate.   “The wind might have changed on us for five or six times. That was the big thing because you always need to check the wind. It is a difficult golf course so with the conditions like that, it plays a little bit harder,” said Jager.   Thai veteran Thammanoon, a five-time Asian Tour winner, rolled back the years when he took advantage of the relatively calm conditions in the morning with four birdies against one bogey.   “It is very tough out there but I managed to hold on. I’m happy with how I played after yesterday’s round. It is always easier to play when there’s not so much wind,” said the 43-year-old.   Local hope Salvador is on track of making amends for his two play-off defeats in 2011 and 2012 on the Asian Tour when he charged into contention with a battling 69.   “It was a good thing my putting and pitching were okay. The goal for the third round is to make par on every hole. It will be a bonus if I can make a birdie,” said Salvador, who is searching for a first Asian Tour win.   The halfway cut was set at seven-over-par 151 with 76 players making the weekend rounds. 2011 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Juvic Pagunsan had to withdraw from the second round as his wife, who is expected to give birth within a fortnight, was feeling ill.   Scores after round 2 of the Solaire Open 2013 being played at the par 72, 7222 Yards Wack Wack GcC course (a- denotes amateur): 142 - Thammanoon SRIROJ (THA) 73-69, Kwanchai TANNIN (THA) 71-71, Matt JAGER (AUS) 70-72, LIN Wen-tang (TPE) 69-73. 143 - KIM Gi-whan (KOR) 72-71, Richard T. LEE (CAN) 72-71, Elmer SALVADOR (PHI) 74-69, Pawin INGKHAPRADIT (THA) 68-75. 144 - Tetsuji HIRATSUKA (JPN) 71-73, Gunn CHAROENKUL (THA) 73-71, Unho PARK (AUS) 73-71, Carl SANTOS-OCAMPO (PHI) 72-72, Panuwat MUENLEK (THA) 74-70, Rahil GANGJEE (IND) 75-69. 145 - Yoshinobu TSUKADA (JPN) 72-73, Daisuke KATAOKA (JPN) 70-75, Miguel TABUENA (PHI) 73-72, Dodge KEMMER (USA) 66-79, Mars PUCAY (PHI) 69-76, Jake HIGGINBOTTOM (AUS) 74-71. 146 - HSU Mong-nan (TPE) 74-72, Peter KARMIS (RSA) 73-73, Sattaya SUPUPRAMAI (THA) 75-71, Thanyakon KHRONGPHA (THA) 72-74, Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA) 75-71, Jay BAYRON (PHI) 74-72, Sam CYR (USA) 76-70, CHOO Tze Huang (SIN) 76-70. 147 - Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA) 72-75, CHAN Yih-shin (TPE) 75-72, Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA) 74-73, Simon GRIFFITHS (ENG) 72-75, Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 75-72, Abhinav LOHAN (IND) 76-71, Chris RODGERS (ENG) 73-74, Shaaban HUSSIN (MAS) 73-74, Rory HIE (INA) 72-75. SELECTED SCORE MISSED THE CUT (151 and better qualified) 154 James Byrne (Scotland) 77 77 TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES CLICK HERE