Ben Crane and Pariya Junhasavasdikul lead after second round of CIMB Asia Pacific Classic
Thai golfer Pariya Junhasavasdikul and American Ben Crane find themselves atop the leader-board after two rounds in the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic played in Selangor, Malaysia.
Crane shot the low round of the day, carding a bogey-less 64 which launched him from 10th at the beginning of the day to tied for the lead.
Junhasavasdikul shot a 65 that featured a late birdie-run that saw him make five birdies in the last seven holes. Junhasavasdikul second round also included bogeys on holes par-4 fourth and the easy par-five
11th.
Heading into the week-end Crane and Junhasavasdikul are 11-under, putting them one stroke ahead of Americans Ryan Moore and Rickie Barnes.
Moore had an eventful second round 68 that included four consecutive birdies on holes five through eight and bogeys on the 10th and 12th holes. Moore went out with a 31 but came in with a disappointing
37.
Barnes struggled to make birdies in his second round, recording only three birdies along with one bogey.
Junhasavasdikul, who is a business management graduate of Purdue University and a licensed pilot, spoke after his round saying: “My putting is cooperating very much and my ball striking has been good.”
He went on to discuss the headway made this past year with his coach saying, “We’ve been working on finding consistency in the game and that’s been a reason for my form this year.”
This PGA tour event is the first PGA tour-sanctioned event in Southeast Asia. The 40-man tournament is also sanctioned by the Asian Tour. The total purse of the event is six million dollars along with
a winner’s share of one million dollars.
The 34-year-old Crane is enjoying his first trip to Malaysia and the Orient in general.
“It was a fun day. I haven’t really been overseas other than the British Open and we are having a great time and enjoying what Malaysia has to offer. I got off to a fast start. I hit a nice wedge shot
to about three feet for birdie on the first hole, and that always feels good and frees you up a little bit,” said Crane.
Carl Pettersson shot a 68 putting him alone in fifth position. Topping of the leader-board are Adam Scott, Luke Donald and D.J. Trahan tied for sixth at eight-under.
Other notables in contention include Rickie Fowler who sits four shots back at seven-under with Ernie Els and six other players.
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