TIANJIN, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chakansim Khamborn surged to the top of the leaderboard during second-round play at the Straits Cup Ladies Classic on Thursday, as the Thai veteran carded an eagle and four birdies for a six-under 66 and a commanding four-shot lead in Tianjin.
Through 36 holes at Tianjin Fortune Lake Golf Club's C and D composite course, Chakansim was 11-under 133. The 800,000 yuan (about 119,000 U.S. dollars) tournament features a field of 120 players from the CLPG and TLPGA tours in an event created to promote cross-Strait friendship.
Fellow Thai Nook Sukapan was alone in second after a 68, one shot ahead of China's Liu Wenbo (66) and Huang Ting-hsuan (69) of Chinese Taipei. Overnight leader An Zining shot 73 to drop into a five-way tie for fifth, six shots off the lead.
Ren Yijia, leader of the CLPG Tour points ranking, shot 73 to fall seven shots off the pace.
Chakansim, who opened with a five-under 67 on Wednesday to sit one stroke off the lead with her best round in two seasons on the CLPG Tour, went one stroke better with a bogey-free second round that included an eagle at the 382-yard ninth hole.
"My putting is pretty good today. It saved me a lot. My irons and drivers were so-so. My chipping is also good. I didn't think about I make a bogey or par or birdie, just do what I can do. On number nine, the first shot I just hit on the fairway. And then the second one, it's like 153 yards to the pin. I hit 7-iron. Yeah, it goes straight to the pin."
The 26-year-old from Khon Kaen in northeastern Thailand is now in position to claim her first win since turning professional in 2019. Her best result this year has been a runner-up finish on the Thai domestic tour.
"In golf, anything can happen. You cannot be overthinking or thinking less. You just have to be in the now and do what you can do. That's all the humans can do. Anyway, I got 100 percent confidence to chase this championship tomorrow."
Nook, a two-time winner on the CLPG Tour in 2015, started her afternoon round on the back nine and quickly ran into trouble with bogeys at her second and fifth holes after opening with a birdie. On her second nine, the front nine, the Chiang Rai native found her rhythm with five birdies, including three over the final four holes.
"I played on the CLPG Tour a long time ago. I remember coming here with my sister, and it was around my first year after turning professional (in 2014). I actually played quite well at the time, so I have some good memories from that experience," said Nook, a 10-time winner around the region.
"The tour and the overall organization have improved a lot since the last time I played here. I really like what I've seen this week."
Liu, winner of the Max Caihong Qingdao Women's Open in June, rebounded strongly from an even-par opening round to card seven birdies and one bogey after starting her morning round on the back nine.
The Straits Cup Ladies Classic is being played at Tianjin Fortune Lake Golf Club's C and D courses, a 6,604-yard, par-72 composite layout designed by Peter Thomson and Ross Perrett. ■
