Pelle Edberg and Scott Hend share halfway lead in Thailand
Saturday 12 March 2016 11:35, UK
Pelle Edberg continued to make course knowledge count as he earned a share of the halfway lead with Scott Hend at the True Thailand Classic.
Edberg is attached to the Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin and spent much of the winter practising there, and he added a 67 to his opening 65 to set the early clubhouse target at 12 under par.
The Swede soon had company at the top of the leaderboard when Hend birdied the last two holes to cap a flawless 64, while overnight leader Peter Uihlein slipped three shots off the pace after struggling to an erratic 71.
Edberg, who is making his 200th European Tour start this week, began his second round with four solid pars before birdies at three of the next five holes took him to the turn in 33.
The 36-year-old stuttered with bogeys at 11 and 14 either side of another gain at the long 13th, but he then stormed into the outright lead with three straight birdies from the 15th before closing with a disappointing three-putt par at the last.
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Edberg, still looking for his first European Tour title, said afterwards: "I'm more satisfied with the result today than yesterday. I was playing extremely good yesterday but today I played well, but not as good.
"It was a strong finish. I birdied 15, 16 and 17 and three-putted the last unfortunately for a par. Overall it was a good day. I saw a few guys showing up and I knew there were a few birdies out there. You know when you have 16 through 18 to play, you'll have some birdie chances.
"It feels nice to see your name up there. It gets easier as well but on the other hand, on home soil, I hope I'm not as nervous about tomorrow as I was on Thursday."
Hend matched the course record as he carded six birdies and an eagle at the second, and he was delighted with his form having slumped to 22 over par in last week's WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral.
"I like this course, I like the area, I like coming to Thailand as it's a friendly place," the Australian told the European Tour. "I always have a pretty good time here. After a lacklustre effort last week in the WGC in Miami, we'll see what comes now."
The leading pair are one-shot clear of home star Panuphol Pittayarat, who also kept a bogey off his card in his seven-birdie 65, while Scotland's Simon Yates and Welsh journeyman Rhys Davies are among a five-strong group at nine under.
Pittayarat provided one of the best stories of the inaugural Thailand Classic last year when he won a holiday home at the course for making a hole in one at the 14th during the second round.
"To be honest, I never play well here, never score well here," he said. "This week, I'm just taking a chill pill and giving it a go. The result has come up pretty good."
