Xiamen: Thailand's Prima Thammaraks put herself in contention to claim her second win of the year yesterday when the second-year pro fired an impressive five-under-par 67 in windy conditions for a five-stroke lead after two rounds of the Xiamen Orient Masters in Fujian, China.
The Bangkok native was nine-under 135 through 36 holes at the RMB500,000 (approximately 2.5 million baht) China LPGA Tour event at Orient (Xiamen) Golf Country Club.
Overnight leader Supamas Sangchan was a distant second as the Thai stumbled to a 73.
South Korean Chung Ye-Na (70) was third, seven shots behind, while amateur Du Mohan (71) was top among the Chinese, tying for joint fourth with Thailand's Nattagate Nimitpongkul (69) and Renuka Suksukont (72).
Starting the day two shots off the lead, Prima made five birdies over the front nine to make the turn at nine under.
The 25-year-old got to 11 under and a six-shot lead after birdies on the 11th and 13th holes.
She then took a bogey five on the 14th hole and double-bogey six on the 15th hole before making birdie on the last.
"I am very surprised. I played very well today. Everything was great, my driving was great and my putting was brilliant. Actually, I didn't hit my irons very close to the holes as I did yesterday but my putting was really great today," said Prima, winner of the Gold Coast Challenge in Australia in February.
"This year I played a lot in windy conditions. Last week I was in the New Zealand Women's Open and that was the worst conditions that I had ever played. It was a humbling experience. I know I have to be more focused when I play tomorrow [final round]. And today thankfully I did really well. I think playing in New Zealand really helped me in adapting to the conditions here."
Supamas, who had a two-shot lead after the opening round, started from the back nine and struggled in the wind in her early morning round. "Today the pin positions were tough. It was just a normal day, but not a bad day," she said.
