India’s S.S.P. Chawrasia doubled his overnight advantage to two when he carded a second round four-under-par 66 to continue leading the UBS Hong Kong Open on Saturday.
Despite the gusty conditions at the Hong Kong Golf Club, the six-time Asian Tour winner remained unperturbed as he even extended his lead to five at one stage after birdies on holes three, seven, eight, 10 and 13.
His card was marred by a lone bogey on the par-four 14 and with South Africa’s Thomas Aiken returning with the day’s lowest score of 64 to take second place, the Indian’s lead was eventually cut to two.
Thailand’s Poom Saksansin’s two-day total of five-under-par 135 saw him take a share of third place and kept him within sights of Chawrasia as he conquered his nerves to remain in contention for his third Asian Tour victory.
Newly-crowned Asian Tour winner, Micah Lauren Shin of the United States continued his good form by returning with a 69 to be among the front runners in tied-seventh place at the US$2 million event.
Tournament drawcards Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia meanwhile kept the galleries happy as their respective 137 and 140 total was enough to see them progress into the weekend rounds.
