Thailand’s Chinnarat Phadungsil sank nine birdies on his way to a share of the halfway lead with Kim Hyung-Sung of South Korea at the Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic on Thursday.
The 23-year-old Chinnarat broke the course record at the Angkor Golf Resort with his eight-under-par second round 64, just a day after it had been set by South Korean Baek Seuk-hyun.
Both Chinnarat and Kim were in sparkling form, with the 31-year-old Korean shooting five straight birdies on the front nine and only missing the outright lead because of a bogey on the last.
The pair ended Thursday’s second round level on 11-under-par 133, with Niall Turner a shot back in the $300,000 Asian Tour event after a flawless 67 in hot and humid conditions. The tall Irishman has not dropped a shot in 36 holes.
Three-time Asian Tour winner Chinnarat had a sensational day with his approach play, hitting 17 greens in regulation.
“My irons were very good. I didn’t have long putts as I hit many shots close,” said Chinnarat, according to an Asian Tour press release.
Recent putting practice seemed to have paid off for Chinnarat, as he needed just 27 putts to negotiate the greens.
“In the last two events in India, my putting wasn’t good. I went back to Thailand and worked on it and I’m getting more confident with my putting. It’s basic stuff like keeping my head and putter head still during the stroke. It’s working,” he said. Overnight leader Baek Seuk-hyun was among those tied in fourth place, four strokes behind, after a 71. The 28-year-old Turner struggled in the stifling heat but managed to fire five birdies to stay in touch with the leaders. “There was no wind and it was just breathless out there. Humidity was off the charts and I was glad the winds picked up a bit on the back nine,” he said.
