Thaworn rolls back the years in Samui

The 50-year-old, winner at this course in 2008, 2012 and 2014, generated his first Asian Tour’s personal best of seven birdies at the back nine after his first two at the front against a lone bogey before submitting his scorecard of nine under-par-133 to lead on the Asian Tour for the first time in three years.

“Maybe there are some flukes for me out there. Like on the 10 th hole I didn’t hit the first two shots well but my putt just went in when I least expected it. I have plenty of lucks today,” said the 2005 and 2012 Asian Tour No 1. He is the ninth person on the Asian Tour to hit 28 at the back nine.

The winner of 18 Asian Tour titles has been far from impressive over the past two years making just five cuts from 14 events in 2016 and finished tied 10^th in Thailand Open last month, his first top 10 appearance on the Tour in two years.

“I feel discouraged at times. But I have to bear with it and live with the fact that it’s normal (for his age). I just try to play according to my condition like not being to make the cut or win. Like in the Thailand Open I was so happy to finish the top 10,” added Thaworn looking for his first Asian Tour win after the King’s Cup in 2014.

“Every tournament I play, I always have hope but I have no idea how best I can be in the end. At my age it’s normal to feel a bit tired even I think I’m still fit. Nowadays I enter events trying to enjoy and feel happy if I make the cut. I never thought I would be playing this well today,” said Thaworn who matched his 63 in the 2010 edition here.

A stroke behind was 27-year-old Nicholas Fung of Malaysia who played alongside Thaworn in the same squad fired a 68 for a midway total of eight under-par-134.

Nicholus Fung

“I was playing with Thaworn and I was just trying to learn from him and tried to put my ball near his ball so that I could read his lines. It’s amazing, I couldn’t believe he shot 28. On this course, four or five back is still anybody’s game. If I can shoot three or four under over the next two days, I’ll be happy,” said Fung who has yet to hold a Tour trophy.

Six players including another former champion Prayad Marksaeng were tied at third, each with a 135. The 51-yearold and 2013 and 2015 winner shot a second round 70.

“I felt a bit sluggish today as I was so hard on myself with hitting on the fairways. I ended up hitting the rough many times. I hope that I can putt better to keep myself to stay in contention in this tournament,” said Prayad.

Unfancied Chanat Sakulpolphaisan, one of the four overnight leaders, stumbled to a 74 and a total 139. A total 70 players made it to the weekend rounds with the cut at  two-over-par 145.