Australian Scott Hend moved into the lead as the second round of The Championship at Laguna National began in Singapore.
An opening 67 had left Hend four shots off the first round pace, but with overnight leader Panuphol Pittayarat not out until the afternoon the 40 year old took advantage of more perfect scoring conditions.
Starting on the back nine, Hend carded three birdies in his first four holes and, after a bogey at the 14th, grabbed another gain at the 15th to turn in 33.
Back-to-back birdies at the first and second then took Hend, who won three times en route to finishing second on the co-sanctioning Asian Tour’s Order of Merit in 2013, to five under for his round and ten under for the week.
That was one clear of Dane Anders Hansen, Chile’s Felipe Aguilar, Indian Rahil Gangjee and Thai pair Arnond Vongvanu and Pittayarat – the latter still to tee off.
French trio Gregory Bourdy, François Calmels and Victor Riu were a shot further back alongside India’s SSP Chowrasia, with Scott Jamieson, David Lipsky, Quincy Quek and Kim Byung-jun still to start their second rounds also on eight under.
