Even a heavy cold could not slow Miguel Angel Jiménez as he established a one shot lead at the halfway stage of the True Thailand Classic presented by Black Mountain began.
Jiménez had complained of feeling under the weather during his opening 67, although that had not prevented him dancing on the fairway after holing his approach to the ninth for eagle.
And the 51 year old Spaniard said he was still bunged up on Friday, although there was little sign of it as he reeled off seven birdies at Black Mountain Golf Club, including a 20 foot effort on the seventh.
Jiménez did drop a shot at the ninth, his final hole, after a wayward tee shot and coming up short of the green with his approach to card a 66 and 11 under halfway total.
That closing bogey saw a three shot lead reduced to one as playing partner Kiradech Aphibarnrat birdied the same hole from eight feet for a second straight round of 67.
Already a winner on the Champions Tour this year, Jiménez is now looking to extend his own record as The European Tour’s oldest winner, which he set when he triumphed as a 50 year old in last year’s Open de España.
“I’m very happy,” said Jiménez. “I am disappointed to make bogey on the last but overall I played very solid and made a lot of birdies.
“I was hitting shots right at the flags today. You need to be in the right places on the greens to put the ball on the right side of the hole, because the putts are very fast - I like it.
“I have a bad cold and I’m very bunged up and slept terribly last night, but apart from that I’m fine.”
Home favourite Aphibarnrat eagled the long second for the second day running, as well as carding six birdies and three bogeys.
And the 25 year old admitted it was not going to be easy overhauling a man more than twice his age over the weekend.
“We played a lot together in Europe last year and he’s a really nice guy,” he said. “But it’s not easy to beat an old guy like him! He hits the ball very far and is striking it very well. He’s a world-class player in my eyes.”
Another of the home contingent, tournament ambassador Thongchai Jaidee, shot a 66 to share third with Scott Hend and Richard T Lee on nine under.
“I hit a lot of good shots but missed a few short putts,” said Jaidee, who with five titles is the most successful Thai player in European Tour history.
“I missed from three feet three times, but otherwise I played great today and hit the ball very well.
“It should’ve been more than six under today; sometimes you lose your confidence with the putter and the greens are very tricky here – a lot of guys are struggling.
“But it’s great to be playing at home in Thailand and I’m performing well. I’m two behind so that’s not too bad - I’ll be trying to catch up tomorrow.”
Overnight leader Michael Hoey could only follow his course record 64 on day one with a level par 72 as he slipped into a share of sixth.
There were some great shots as well as great rounds – none more so than Panuphol Pittayarat’s ace on the 201-yard 14th, which earned the Thai a new house at Black Mountain.
“I’m still shaking after finishing 18 holes,” he said. “It’s the second time I got a hole-in-one in my career; all I got the first time was two shots but this time I really got something! I’ve seen the pictures of the house every day since I arrived here, and now it’s mine.”
