European Tour: Thailand's Chapchai Nirat continued his astonishing assault on the Yalong Bay course yesterday, shooting a second-round 66 to go 17-under-par for the tournament and take a six-shot lead in the TCL Classic on China.
The 23-year-old, who shot a course record 11-under-par 61 to lead by three shots overnight, finally made a bogey on his 22nd hole of the European and Asian Tour event but already had two birdies in the bag.
Nirat picked up three more birdies and an eagle to start the weekend with Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, Argentine Rafael Echenique and Australians David Bransdon, Simon Nash and Adam Blyth his nearest rivals on 11-under-par.
"My plan was just to keep it on the fairway, hit the green, putt and make as few mistakes as possible," the burly Thai said.
Paul McGinley was Ireland's only qualifier after a second round 67 left him on the cut of 139. Damien McGrane and Michael Hoey missed out by just one shot after rounds of 71 and 70 respectively, while David Higgins was back on 146 after a 74.
But for a couple of late bogeys, Francois Delamontagne could have bettered Nirat's first round 61. The Frenchman hit 10 birdies - six in a row around the turn to stand at 10-under - and an eagle at the par-five 13th in his best-of-the-day round of 62. But his bogeys in his opening 73 means he shares 12th place on nine-under-par.
His compatriot Gonnet took his place at the head of the chasing pack by picking up shots on the last three holes for a 66.
"Three birdies and I chipped in on the 18th," said Gonnet, who is playing in his fourth tournament since graduating from the Challenge Tour.
Lee Westwood is still in with a shout after a second-round 70 put him on eight-under-par.
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