Boonchu on course for back-to-back wins
Boonchu Ruangkit continued his superb form to lead the Chang Thailand Senior Masters. Denis O’Sullivan and Jimmy Heggarty went backwards but home hero Boonchu Ruangkit surged ahead in his bid for back-to-back European Senior Tour victories in Thailand.
O’Sullivan posted a two over 74 and Heggarty a 73 as Ruangkit blasted a sensational 66 to open up a three shot lead over countryman Jamnian Chitprasong on 14 under par going into the final round of the Chang Thailand Senior Masters.
England’s Peter Mitchell was the last man to notch successive Senior Tour victories back in October 2008 when he won in consecutive weeks in Scotland and Italy but 53 year old Ruangkit is poised to follow him into the record books at the Royal Gems Golf Club in Nakhonpathom.
“I am very happy with my form right now although I must admit I’m a little tired,” Boonchu said. “But if I get a good night’s rest I am sure I’ll be up for the challenge tomorrow.
“To win two weeks in a row would be a fantastic achievement for me and one I’ll be going all out to accomplish although I know it won’t be easy as there are a lot of good players behind me, especially Jamnian who played really well today and who I know will be difficult to beat.”
O’Sullivan got off to the perfect start with birdies at the first two holes putting him inside the top 10 on five under par. But while he followed bogeys at the seventh and eighth with a birdie at the ninth to turn in one under 35, he dropped three shots in his last five holes for a disappointing homeward 39 and a 74 that relegated him to 28th place on one-under par.
Heggarty’s round was a similar tale of two halves but in contrast to the Cork man, he kept the best for last.
Three over par for his round through six holes, he steadied the ship with 10 pars and a brace of birdies at the 12th and 13th for a 73 that leaves him on one-over par with a round to play.
Chang Thailand Senior Masters presented by ISPS
Royal Gems Golf Club, Nakhonpathom, Thailand
(Par 72 = 144)
Second round scores:
130 Boonchu Ruangkit (Tha) 64 66
133 Jamnian Chitprasong (Tha) 66 67
135 David J Russell (Eng) 67 68, Frankie Minoza (Phi) 70 65
136 Manus Saengsui (Tha) 65 71
137 Jim Rhodes (Eng) 68 69, Adan Sowa (Arg) 67 70, Katsuyoshi Tomori (Jpn) 66 71
138 Philip Harrison (Eng) 67 71, Seiji Ebihara (Jpn) 68 70, Tony Johnstone (Zim) 69 69
139 Jerry Bruner (USA) 68 71
140 Gordon J Brand (Eng) 70 70, Roger Chapman (Eng) 71 69, Horacio Carbonetti (Arg) 69 71
141 Sandy Lyle (Sco) 70 71, Costantino Rocca (Ita) 71 70, Fraser Mann (Sco) 70 71, Chris Williams (Rsa) 72 69, Nick Job (Eng) 71 70
142 Bob Cameron (Eng) 70 72, Bob Boyd (USA) 71 71, Mike Williams (Zim) 68 74, Juan Quiros (Spa) 68 74, David Merriman (Aus) 70 72, Graham Gunn (Can) 70 72, Luis Carbonetti (Arg) 69 73
143 George Ryall (Eng) 70 73, Kevin Spurgeon (Eng) 70 73, Glenn Ralph (Eng) 72 71, Stephen Bennett (Eng) 69 74, Bobby Lincoln (Rsa) 68 75, Denis O’Sullivan (Irl) 69 74, Jose Rivero (Spa) 70 73, Mike Harwood (Aus) 69 74, Nopajak Meesom (Tha) 67 76, Marimuthu Ramayah (Mal) 71 72
144 Sutep Bunpimuck (Tha) 71 73, Peter Teravainen (USA) 74 70, Marc Farry (Fra) 68 76, Saneh Saengsui (Tha) 71 73, Sam Torrance (Sco) 73 71, Jimmy Heggarty (NIrl) 71 73
145 Graham Banister (Aus) 71 74, Lyndsay Stephen (Aus) 72 73, Pete Oakley (USA) 75 70, Mike Clayton (Aus) 75 70
146 Jeff Hawkes (Rsa) 76 70, Martin Gray (Sco) 78 68, Peter Mitchell (Eng) 71 75, Terry Gale (Aus) 73 73, Ian Woosnam (Wal) 72 74, Giuseppe Cali (Ita) 70 76, Simon Owen (Nzl) 72 74, Lee Yong-Kun (Kor) 69 77
147 Noel Ratcliffe (Aus) 75 72, Scott Taylor (USA) 74 73, Bill Longmuir (Sco) 73 74, Mike Cunning (USA) 69 78
148 Alan Tapie (USA) 75 73, Peter Dahlberg (Swe) 71 77, Bill Hardwick (Can) 72 76, Mike Miller (Sco) 75 73
149 John Chillas (Sco) 72 77, Martin Poxon (Eng) 72 77, Peter Allan (Eng) 74 75, T.C. Chen (Tpe) 76 73
150 Kim-Jung Nam (Kor) 73 77, Jeff Hall (Eng) 74 76
151 Bertus Smit (Rsa) 74 77, Doug Johnson (USA) 76 75, Ian Mosey (Eng) 76 75, Delroy Cambridge (Jam) 74 77
152 Terry Burgoyne (Sco) 77 75, Anders Johnsson (Swe) 77 75
154 Manuel Pinero (Spa) 75 79, Ian Palmer (Rsa) 75 79
158 Antonio Garrido (Spa) 75 83