Thailand's Chapchai Nirat continued his astonishing assault on the Yalong Bay course, shooting a second-round 66 to go 17-under-par for the tournament and take a six-shot lead in the TCL Classic.
The 23-year-old, who shot a course record 11-under-par 61 to lead by three shots overnight, finally made a bogey on his 22nd hole event but already had two birdies in the bag.
Chapchai dropped no further shots and picked up three more birdies as well as an eagle to start the weekend with Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, Argentine Rafael Echenique and Australians David Bransdon, Simon Nash and Adam Blyth his nearest rivals on 11-under.'
'My plan was just to keep it on the fairway, hit the green, putt and make as few mistakes as possible,' the burly Thai said.
Ireland's Paul McGinley produced a second round 67 to edge into the weekend action after his opening round 72 put the Ryder Cup ace in danger of missing the cut.
Spaniard Carl Suneson, one of five players sharing seventh a shot behind the second-placed quintet, said he doubted Chapchai could keep up the pace over the last two days of the $1 million event.
'He's obviously playing tremendous golf but I played here last year when David Howell was 17-under after two rounds and he didn't win,' he said. 'This game has a habit of bringing you back to your knees pretty quickly.'
But for a couple of late bogeys, Francois Delamontagne could have bettered Chapchai's first round 61.
The Frenchman hit 10 birdies -- six in a row around the turn to stand at 10-under -- as well as an eagle at the par-five 13th in his best-of-the-day round of 62.
But his bogeys and his opening 73 means he shares 12th on nine-under.
His compatriot Gonnet took his place at the head of the chasing pack by picking up shots on the last three holes for a 66.
'Three birdies and I chipped in on the 18th,' said the 24-year-old, who is playing in his fourth tournament since graduating from the challenge tour.
Lee Westwood is still in with a shout after a second-round 70 put him in a share of 19th on eight-under but his Ryder Cup skipper Ian Woosnam carded a 71 to stand at one under and missed the cut, which was set at five under par.
