Mercedes Benz Asean Tour

November 6: Unheralded young Thai golfers Pariya Junhasavasdikul and Piya Swangarunpron were the surprise front runners after the second round of the Mercedes-Benz Masters Singapore today.

Pariya carded a five-under-par 67 on the Masters Course at Laguna National Golf and Country Club for a one shot lead over Piya, who came in with a 68.

Pariya leads the US$50,000 event on nine-under-par 135.

Two strokes behind the leader is Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing, who returned a 70.

Overnight leader M. Sasidaran from Malaysia, who had a first round 66, slipped back with a 74 and is five behind along with Filipino Michael Bibat, winner of the Singapore Amateur Open in 2004.

Singapore’s top golfer Mardan Mamat carded a 72 and is three under for the tournament, which is the seventh leg on this year’s Mercedes-Benz Tour.

Pariya started his round on the 10th and made the turn in three under with birdies on 15, 16 and 18. He made his only bogey of the day on the first but responded with birdies on the fourth, sixth and ninth.

“I am not really used to being in this position but it’s great and very good experience. It’s nice to have Piya up there as well as we will be playing together tomorrow,” said Pariya.

Piya helped make it a busy day for those manning the leader boards handling another long Thai name by shooting a bogey free round.

Lam, winner of the Mercedes-Benz Masters Indonesia in May, leads the local challenge and will be strongly fancied to make a challenge over the next two days. 

He was cruising following birdies on the second, ninth and 10th but stumbled with dropped shots on the 14th and 16th. 

“I am still in contention. Had a couple of bogeys on the back nine which was disappointing,” said Lam, who also won this year’s Singapore PGA Championship.

This week the Singaporean has gone back to using his standard length putter as opposed to his belly putter for the first time in two years.

“I have been using the belly putter for about six years now. There was a small gap in-between when I used my normal putter but I have always relied on my belly putter. Having made the switch back I am rolling the ball quite nicely on the greens,” added Lam.

The halfway cut was made at five-over-par 149