YANGON, February 3, 2012 (AFP) - Australian Scott Hend took advantage of his soaring drives to shoot a five-under-par 67 and edge into the halfway lead at the Zaykabar Myanmar Open on Friday.
Overnight joint-leader Hend held a one-shot advantage over Thailand's rising star Kiradech Aphibarnrat with a two-day total of 13-under-par 131 at the Royal Mingalardon Golf and Country Club.
Kiradech, who won his first Asian Tour title last year, shot a solid 66 while countryman Chinnarat Phadungsil (68) and Ben Fox (69) of the United States were a further shot back on 133 at the $300,000 event.
Jesper Kennegard of Sweden set a new course record with a sizzling 63 to tie in fifth place with former European Tour member Wade Ormsby, Kodai Ichihara of Japan, Marcus Both of Australia and Joon Lee of Korea.
Hend, who was averaging drives of 331 yards today, got off to a strong start, making four birdies and one bogey in the opening five holes.
The highlight of his day came on the 10th hole when he sank a 15-feet chip-in birdie.
"I missed a couple of three footers but it is all positives going into the weekend," he said, according to an Asian Tour press release.
"The way to score around here is try and to give yourself a lot of 10 footers. The key to this golf course is to read the slopes on the green." Kiradech, popular for his grip-it and rip-it style of play, birdied the last three holes to put him within a stroke of the leader and ignite his ambitions for a second Asian Tour victory.
"Been a solid two days but I still have a lot of work to do. Honestly, I could have gone lower but missed a couple of easy birdie chances," said the Thai.
Scores after round 2 of the Zaykabar Myanmar Open 2012 being played at the par 72 Royal Mingalardon in Yangon:
131 - Scott HEND (AUS) 64-67.
132 - Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 66-66.
133 - Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA) 65-68, Ben FOX (USA) 64-69.
134 - Wade ORMSBY (AUS) 64-70, Kodai ICHIHARA (JPN) 67-67, Marcus BOTH (AUS) 68-66, Jesper KENNEGARD (SWE) 71-63, Joon LEE (KOR) 67-67.
135 - Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA) 68-67, Tetsuji HIRATSUKA (JPN) 69-66.
136 - Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA) 67-69, Masanori KOBAYASHI (JPN) 67-69, Stephen LEWTON (ENG) 70-66, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 66-70.