Veteran Thawon Wiratchant riddled the backside with seven birdies to tally an 8-under 63 Friday and seize the halfway mark lead even as Filipinos Juvic Pagunsan and Angelo Que stayed in contention in the Queen’s Sirikit Cup at Santiburi Samui Country Club in Thailand.
Counting his opening 70, the 50-year-old Thai posted a 133 total, besting Malaysian Nicholas Fung’s 68 and 134, thus boosting his bid to regain the crown he won in 2014.
Tailing Wiratchant and Fung, who were in the late flights, at 135 were Pagunsan, who shot 67, and Que, who made 70, and three others.
Also in the hunt were first round co-leaders Rashid Khan of India and Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, both with 70s, and Indian SSP Chawarasia, who fired 68.
Antonio Lascuña was at 1-over 143 after a 71 while Miguel Tabuena tumbled with a 73 and a 145 total to miss the cut (144). —ROY LUARCA