Prom, Carolan share honours at King's Cup
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Prom Meesawat of Thailand signalled his return to form by taking a share of the second round lead with Australia's Tony Carolan at the King's Cup on Friday.
Prom, who has been struggling with a shoulder injury in the past two years, continued his renaissance by posting a five-under-par 67 while overnight leader Carolan returned with a 69 for a two-day total of nine-under-par 135 at the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club.
South African Jbe Kruger fired a sparkling 65, the best score in two rounds, to lie in third place on a 136 total while 17-year-old Panuphol Pittayarat of Thailand and Korean Mo Joong-kyung, a two-time Asian Tour champion, are a stroke back in tied fourth at the US$300,000 full field event.
Singapore's Quincy Quek overcame an elbow and wrist injury for a flawless 67 to tie with Kwanchai Tannin of Thailand on a 138 total, three strokes from the leaders at the event presented by Singha and the Sports Authority of Thailand.
Prom turned in 35 but bounced back with a bogey free back nine highlighted by four birdies. The big-hitting Thai, nicknamed "Big Dolphin", was delighted to be in position of ending a four-year title drought on the Asian Tour.
"I'm very happy with my first two rounds. I'm back to form and I need to stick to my game plan of keeping calm. I need to remain focus and continue playing against myself and the golf course," said Prom, whose sole victory on the Asian Tour was in 2006.
"I really want to win because this event is so important to the Thai players. Our current King is so good and I hope I can win it for him. It will be nice to have the King's trophy in my cabinet," said the 26-year-old, who lingers in 83rd place on the Order of Merit after eight missed cuts.
Carolan, who is searching for his maiden Asian Tour victory, was trailing playing partner Prom by a stroke before closing with two consecutive birdies.
"I couldn't make a birdie putt on the front nine but I entered the back nine with a little bit of confidence because I shot a couple of birdies there yesterday," said the Australian.
"I'm in a good position for the weekend rounds and this is the sort of course that if you play well, you will shoot a good number and I plan on doing just that," said Carolan, who has been struggling with tendinitis in his right elbow this season.
Kruger, 24, bogeyed his first hole but recovered superbly with six birdies and one eagle against one bogey. The diminutive South African remained optimistic of maintaining his form and landing his first Asian Tour win.
"I'm happy because everything came together very nicely and I sank some crucial putts. I'm still in it with a chance and it doesn't matter if I'm a shot or two shots back. It will all be about Sunday," said Kruger, a two-time runner-up this season.
"It will be nice to win anywhere but it will be amazing to beat the Thai guys on home soil especially when they know this golf course so well," he added.
Korea's Mo, who started on the 10th tee, birdied three of his opening five holes but stumbled to a bogey on hole 17 before trading two birdies with as many bogeys in his homeward nine.
"I'm pretty happy with how I played. I didn't putt very good as I had a couple of three putts so I have to work on my putting later. Overall I'm still happy with my two rounds," said Mo, who won his second Asian Tour title in Thailand in 2008.
After playing regularly in Korea, Mo admitted that he needs time to adapt playing outside of his country.
"I didn't play much on the Asian Tour because I concentrated mostly on playing in Korea and when you settle at one place, it gets very hard for you to come out here to adapt and play well. Maybe I should play more on the Asian Tour," said Mo, currently in 102nd place on the Order of Merit.
A total of 74 players made the weekend rounds after the halfway cut was set at three-over-par 147.
