Thaworn takes charge in Mercuries Taiwan Masters

BY iseekgolf.com | Asian Tour | 2004 Mercuries Taiwan Masters | Round Two | 17 Sep 2004

Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant moved a step closer towards ending a three-year winless run when he seized the halfway lead in the US$390,000 Mercuries Taiwan Masters today.

The unorthodox swinging Thai fired a second successive three-under-par 69 for a two-day total of six-under-par 138 at Taiwan Golf and Country Club’s Tamsui Course and leads by one stroke from Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chie-hsiang, who carded the day’s best of 67.

South African Chris Williams was a further shot back in third place while defending champion Lin Wen-ko, compatriot Hong Chia-yuh and Australian Kim Felton share fourth place on 143.

Thaworn stuttered with a bogey on his third hole of the day, the 12th, but came roaring back with four birdies, crediting his strong driving display where he has missed only four fairways in two rounds. “I missed only two fairways today and here, you can attack the pins when you’re on the short grass,” said Thaworn, whose last victory was the 2001 Volvo Masters of Malaysia.

“I have two drivers in my bag and when I got here, my regular one, a Katana, wasn’t accurate. So I switched to the second driver which is a Titleist and it has worked out well so far. If I can keep driving it straight, I’ll have a chance of winning this week. It’s been a while since I last won,” he added.

His only bogey came off a missed drive but he got his round going by draining an 18-foot birdie on 14. At the turn, he birdied the fourth hole from eight feet before securing easy birdies on the sixth and seventh, both par fives.

The 43-year-old Lin kept himself in the title hunt with a flawless display, highlighted by seven birdies and two dropped shots. A former winner of the Taiwan Open and ROC PGA Championship, Lin could complete his collection of premier titles in Chinese Taipei with victory in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

“I played nicely, hit my irons quite solidly for the seven birdies. I holed a 25 footer on the 13th hole which was my longest putt of the day. It would be nice to win this event and complete my collection of titles,” said Lin.

Last year’s winner Lin Wen-ko shot a 74 that included two double bogeys to lie five back. Overnight leader Anthony Summers of Australia stumbled to a 77, 10 shots more than his opening effort, to settle for equal seventh place with Richard Moir, Lu Chie-shien and Jason Knutzon, this year’s Macau Open winner.

The halfway cut was set at six-over-par 150, with 61 players moving into the weekend play. The 64-year-old Hsieh Min-nan, who captained Asia to victory over Japan in last year’s inaugural Dynasty Cup in China, comfortably survived the cut by two strokes.

American Edward Loar, last week’s winner of the Kolon Korean Open, retired midway through the second round with a wrist injury.

Source – Asian Tour