Thai evergreen Prayad Marksaeng rolled back the years as he fired a two-under-par 68 to seize the halfway lead at the Asia-Pacific Open Mitsubishi Diamond Cup on Friday.
Despite cold and wet conditions at Otone Country Club, Prayad, 49, didn't miss a fairway or green as he moved to five-under 135 and a one-shot lead.
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"I'm confident with my game because I'm physically fit. I play a lot in Japan and to avoid the cold, I spend some time in the hot springs after my rounds. That really helps keep me healthy," Prayad said.
"I had a lot of birdie chances. My game was good except my putting. It was the same yesterday where I missed a lot of short putts. It would have been a better day if those putts went in," he added.
South Korea's K.T. Kim birdied three of his last four holes for a 69, putting him one shot behind Prayad but one ahead of four players who shared third place.
Leading scores:
135 – Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 67-68
136 – K.T. Kim (KOR) 67-69
137 – Hideto Tanihara (JPN) 69-68, Toshinori Muto (JPN) 69-68, Kim Hyung-Sung (KOR) 68-69, Shunsuke Sonoda (JPN) 70-67
138 – Scott Strange (AUS) 64-74, Adam Bland (AUS) 70-68, Yuki Inamori (JPN) 73-65, Yuta Ikeda (JPN) 68-70, Shugo Imahira (JPN) 70-68
