Thailand’s Kaewkanjana leads in Phuket on Asian Tour

Sadom Kaewkanjana (Thai) shot a second round, best of the week, eight under par 64 for a one shot lead, with a 36 hole total of 132 in the Asian Tour’s 2021 Blue Canyon Phuket Championship at Blue Canyon Country Club, Phuket, Thailand.

Kaewkanjana, currently 328 in the OWGR was in good form coming into this week with three victories and one runner-up spot in his last four appearances on the 2021 All Thailand Golf Tour (ATGT) and leads the ATGT Order of Merit with just one tournament remaining in mid-December at Santiburi Country Club, Chiang Rai, Thailand.

First round leader John Catlin (USA), currently 30th in the 2020 – 2021 Asian Tour Order of Merit Rankings from four events to date, is a shot behind the leader. Catlin impressed with his second round statistics, hitting 15 of 18 greens and 13 of 14 fairways and taking 28 putts.

23rd place

Dubai resident Shiv Kapur (Ind) shot a second round 72 to add to his first round of 68 to slip to tied 23rd place. Shiv had nines of 37 and 35, but disappointingly dropped shots on both holes 17 and 18 at the end of his round.

Fellow Dubai based golfer Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) also shot a level par 72 to make the cut on 143. Jeev has needed just 52 putts to complete his first two rounds.

Of the top 22 players after two rounds, four are from the home country Thailand as well as the US with 11 countries represented.

The 36 hole cut fell at one under par (143) with 73 pros progressing through to round three, along with 14 year old amateur Ratchanon Chantananuwat (Thai) making it on the cut line with rounds of 71 and 72.

Miss the cut

Other notables in the field were 2019-2020 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Jazz Janewattananond (Thai) coached by Peter Cowen, who scored rounds of 75 and 72 to miss the cut along with many other top names.

Current 2020-2021 Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Wade Ormsby (Aus) made the cut on 138 in tied 10th place, whilst Trevor Simsby (USA) in second place in the Order of Merit shot 72 and 73 to have a weekend off.

This week’s tournament is the penultimate tournament with next week’s Laguna Phuket Championship at Laguna Phuket Thailand completing the Asian Tour Phuket Series with both tournaments boasting a $1 million prizefund.