HONG KONG: Asian Tour regular Phachara Khongwatmai upstaged early starters Cameron Smith and Bae Sang-moon with a sizzling 10-birdie 63 to take a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the Hong Kong Open on Friday.
The 22-year-old Thai bagged four birdies on the way out and six on the back nine which, mixed with three bogeys, sent him top of the leaderboard on 12-under-par for the tournament.
Australian Smith backed up his opening 63 with a four-under 66 to share second place with South Korean Bae (63), who won twice on the U.S. PGA Tour before two years of national military service interrupted his career. (Reuters)
