May 18, 2018: Natipong Srithong of Thailand shot a second round five-under-par 67 to grab a share of the halfway lead at the US$300,000 Asia-Pacific Classic on Friday.
India’s Honey Baisoya shot two birdies and three bogeys in the second round to add one-over-par 73 to his first round score of five-under-par 67 and lying at T23. He lost 21 spots in the leaderboard from his overnight tied second place.
Chikkarangappa.S shot one-under-par 71 with two birdies and a lone bogie in the second round and lying at T47.
The one-time Asian Tour champion had a near flawless round, carding six birdies against a lone bogey to sign for his second consecutive 67 at the St Andrews Golf Club in Henan, China.
John Catlin of the United States shared the lead with Natipong on a 10-under-par 134 total. The 27-year-old continued his outstanding run of form as he carded a 66 at the tournament, which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the China Golf Association (CGA).
Catlin, who has recently finished in the top-10 in two consecutive Asian Tour tournaments, blemished his scorecard with a bogey on hole one but recovered brilliantly with an eagle on the following hole.
American Charlie Saxon displayed the form that led to two titles on the China Golf Tour as he returned with a bogey-free 66. He fought through a stomach ache to card four birdies and an eagle.
Adam Blyth of Australia began his second round unceremoniously but ended the day with a birdie blitz. Blyth, who started on tee 10, made his first birdie after the turn on the second hole then made five consecutive birdies from holes five to nine to finish with a 66.
Xiao Bowen of China made a personal breakthrough by making the cut on the Asian Tour for the first time in 2018. He won on home soil last year in Xiamen and had put himself in contention with a 68 for a 138 total. Xiao is just four shots off the lead.
Asian Tour Release
