Sadom Kaewkanjana and Danthai Boonma, both searching for their second All Thailand Golf Tour titles this year, shot five-under 67s to share the lead with four other golfers at the Singha Thailand Masters 2019 in Chiang Rai yesterday.
The 21-year-old Sadom, who won the Thongchai Jaidee Foundation event last month, sank five birdies in a bogey-free round at the par-72 Santiburi Country Club while Danthai, who took the E-san Open 2019 title, had six birdies and one bogey at the fourth leg of the tour.
The four other players at the top of the leaderboard were Poom Saksansin, Piya Swangarunporn, Sam Chien of United States, and Kosuke Hamamoto, who was a runner-up at the Thongchai event last month.
The 25-year-old Poom, whose only ATGT title was at this tournament in 2014, said he was a bit lucky to shoot a low score because his tee-shots were not up to his standard.
"I have confidence in my swing. But today, my drives were really bad," he said. "Luckily, I managed to correct it and make some good putts.
"The greens were hard. So, you needed to putt the ball to the right place."
Thaworn Wiratchant, who won the 2007 edition, was a stroke behind to share seventh place with Udorn Duangdecha and 2017 winner Panuphol Pittayarat.
Six-time Masters winner Prayad Marksaeng and Prom Meesawat, who won the inaugural event in 1999, were tied 10th.
World No.127 John Catlin, the highest-ranked player in the 121-player field, had three birdies and one bogey for a two-under 70 to share 14th.
Last year, the American became the seventh foreigner to win on the ATGT Tour after a seven-shot victory at the Chiang Mai Open.
Defending champion Phachara Khongwatmai, who beat Prayad in a play-off last year, was a stroke down further after making four birdies and three bogeys.
The winner will receive 750,000 baht and seven world ranking points.
