Boonma sizzles with a 10-under

On the eve of the TAKE Solutions Masters, Zimbabwean Scott Vincent had said he expected the Thai golfers to come good and as of Friday, the prediction has been accurate with Danthai Boonma dishing out a sizzling display in the second round here.

Overcast conditions at the Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) on Friday did little to dampen the spirit of the 22-year-old as he hammered a 10-under 61 for a comfortable five-shot lead over Argentina's Miguel Carballo (65) and Australian Maverick Antcliff (66) – both of whom are on 132 at the end of day two.

First-round leader Thammanoon Sriroj of Thailand, who had carded a 62, slipped on day two with a 74.

It was a good outing for the Indian golfers with Bengaluru boy S Chikkarangappa shrugging off a sluggish start to fire a seven-under on the day to occupy the fourth spot with 133.

Right behind Chikka is Kolkata's SSP Chawarasia who goes into the third round with a total of eight-under 134. Chawrasia's six-under on Friday was all more admirable considering he has been struggling with his focus since his mother had to be admitted to an ICU after her blood sugar shot up.

“Before the start of the tournament, my mother had to be admitted to the hospital. It was a little difficult yesterday but I am glad about how I played today. The news regarding my mother is good. She is better now. That helped me to focus more today. Yes, during the off-time and break between the shots, I was thinking about her but I didn't let it affect my game,” Chawrasia revealed.

Teeing off in the afternoon, Boonma went on a rampage firing seven consecutive birdies and Indian Rayhan Thomas, (who missed the cut with 145) playing a few groups behind, must have fretted about his record of nine straight birdies being broken.

But the record stood as after sinking a fascinating 20-foot putt on the seventh, Boonma uncharacteristically missed a regulation five-footer on the very next green and had to settle for par. The lull was brief as the Thai sank superb putts on the 11th, 13th and 14th holes to rise to the top of the leaderboard ahead of the final two rounds.

“It’s amazing. It’s my personal best, my first time shooting 10-under-par in my life. I feel very happy and excited. It’s my first time starting the round with seven birdies in a row too! It’s just amazing.

“I just want to enjoy my game tomorrow and not think too much. I’ve been singing this Thai song in my head and I want to continue that tomorrow. It helps calm me down. I will keep smiling and keep it fun out there,” he said.

The real test begins when the third round kicks off on Saturday and question will be whether the Thai can sustain his form or if Chikka has something special in store for the KGA audience.

Leaderboard: (Indian unless specified): 127: Danthai Boonma (Tha) (66, 61); 132: Maverick Antcliff (Aus) (67, 65), Miguel Carballo (Arg) (66, 66); 133: S Chikkarangappa (69, 64);134: SSP Chawrasia (69, 65); 135: Viraj Madappa (70, 65), Suradit Y (Tha) (66, 69); 136: Honey Baisoya (70, 66), Khalin Joshi (67, 69), Anura Rohana (SL) (67, 69), Thammanoon Sriroj (Tha) (62, 74), Jake McLeod (Aus) (67, 69), Mathew Killen (Aus) (68, 68).