BANGKOK // The Singapore golfer Lam Chih Bing shot a slick 66 to grab a two-stroke lead at the end of day two at the Volvo Masters of Asia. Bing carded five birdies on a stunning outward nine and added two more on the 14th and 18th holes of the Asian Tour's season-ending finale to go two clear at nine-under par, with four players tied for second. Bing, who has twice earned a place at the British Open, said the six-under 66 came as a result of less pressure having retained his Asian Tour card.
"It's become so much easier to play out here, (keeping my card) was a big monkey off my back," he said. "Just being here, I've already achieved my goal." The overnight leader Neven Basic of Australia slumped to ninth place after carding a disappointing 74, eight strokes worse than his first round total. Chapchai Nirat, who imploded after leading the co-sanctioned Singapore Open into the final day, fired an impressive 66 after seven birdies and a lone bogey to lie in a tie for second.
"It was a good day, I hit my driver and irons well and putted good," said Chapchai, who is aiming to be the third Thai in succession to win the season-ending championship. "It's a mental game, I learned a lot from the Singapore Open. Hopefully I can control my mind and emotions better." He was joined on seven-under by the Australians Mitchell Brown and Marcus Both, and Antonio Lascuna from the Philippines.
The Indian Jeev Milkha Singh, this year's order of merit winner on a record US$1.4 million (Dh5.1m), carded a two-under 70 after his miserable effort of 76 yesterday, which leaves him languishing two-over in 41st place. *Reuters
