Bangkok: England’s Tommy Fleetwood took a one-stroke lead after firing a three-under 69 in the second round of the $1 million (Dh3.678 million) Thailand Golf Championship at Amata Spring Golf and Country Club on Friday.
For the second day running, gusting winds and the thick rough troubled the entire field.
Fleetwood was on four-under for the tournament, with 2011 champion Lee Westwood and Australia’s Marcus Fraser one shot behind.
A further stroke back were 24 year-old Thai national Tirawat Kaewsiribandit and Jonathan Moore of the US, who shot 72 and 71 respectively.
Lurking in joint sixth place on one-under for the tournament were US Open champion Martin Kaymer, local star Thongchai Jaidee and Paul Peterson of the US.
Defending champion Sergio Garcia suffered a double-bogey at the 18th as he slipped back with a 75. Joint overnight leader Thanyakon Khrongpha also had a bad day, struggling with a five-over 77.
“My game felt good,” said Fleetwood, who sunk four birdies and had just one bogey. “I played really well and had only three or four bad shots, which is what you need in these windy conditions.”
The 24 year-old Fleetwood, who won the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles last year, said keeping the ball out of the rough was the key on such a punishing course. “Missing the fairways is like having a one-shot penalty,” he said.
Westwood said he was very pleased with his 71, following his first round 70.
“I played very well again today. It’s tricky out there and the wind was stronger than in the first round,” he said, adding that “the rough is brutal” on the Amata course.
“All in all it was a good round and puts me in a good position for the weekend,” the English star concluded.
