Fujita firmly on top at Pine Valley

Japan’s Hiroyuki Fujita grabbed the second round lead at the Pine Valley Beijing Open after a solid seven-under-par 65 on Friday.

Fujita, 39, fired nine birdies against two dropped shots as he was pleased to lead the Japanese contingent at the Pine Valley Golf Club.

With a 12-under-par 132 total, Fujita gained a two stroke advantage over 19-year-old Thai star Chinnarat Phadungsil who shot a 69. Chinese Taipei veteran Wang Ter-chang leaped up to lone third place when he fired an impressive nine-under-par 63 which equaled the course record set by Adam Scott in 2005.

Big hitting Australian Scott Hend fired his second straight 68 in lone fourth place while former Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee shot a 66 and was in the mix in joint fifth spot alongside Australia’s Gary Simpson who improved with a 65.

Fujita, who won the 2003 Okinawa Open, was pleased to lead the US1$million event which is sanctioned for the first time by the Japan Golf Tour alongside the Asian Tour and China Golf Association.

“I’m glad to see a strong relationship between the Japan Golf Tour and the Asian Tour and I hope to see more events like this in the future. It’s really exciting for the players to compete here under a mixed field,” said Fujita, who is a five-time winner on the local circuit.

“The course condition is great and I’m quite lucky to finish the round just before the rain. The conditions in China are not that different to how it is back home in Japan. But it is crucial to stay in contention tomorrow. There will be pressure to perform but I hope to enjoy myself out there like what I did today,” he added.

Overnight joint leader Chinnarat, with two Asian Tour titles under his belt, will be hoping to take advantage of the par fives heading into the weekend rounds and notch his second win in China.

“The greens were tricky out there especially on the back nine. But the key is in the par five holes. I hope to birdie all the par fives in the remaining rounds which would definitely put me in a good position on Sunday,” said the Chantaburi-based youngster, who won the 2006 Crowne Plaza Open in China.

Asian Tour’s Wang was delighted to have recorded his best result in his professional golfing career when he blasted nine birdies on the way to a 63 today.

“In my 22 years playing on the professional circuit, this is the first time I’ve shot a nine under. I was putting extremely well and with 23 putts today, I’m really happy with my performance.

“Not sure if I can repeat this result but I hope to sustain my momentum over the weekend,” said the 46-year-old Wang, who has won four titles in Asia.

Japan’s Katsunori Kuwabara will be eager to end his 10 year drought this week as he trailed the leader by five strokes after a 69 in a tie for fifth place.

“I was three under on my front nine which got me on the right note. The rain affected the scores out there but I’m very pleased with where I am on the leaderboard.

“The Asian Tour has some really mature players. I guess we (Fujita) find it easier to adapt playing in this mixed field in comparison to the younger Japanese players with less exposure. It’s going to be an exciting weekend with a lot to play for,” said Kuwabara.

Iain Steel of Malaysia, who was the joint overnight leader, struck a 73 and was among those in a tie for ninth place after a 138 total.

China’s Zhang Lian-wei was on the mark in joint 58th spot after a 71 where a total of 69 players made the weekend rounds.

Leading second round scores

132 - Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN) 67-65

134 - Chinnarat Phadungsil (THA) 65-69

135 - Wang Ter-chang (TPE) 72-63

136 - Scott Hend (AUS) 68-68

137 - Gary Simpson (AUS) 72-65, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 71-66, Katsunori Kuwabara (JPN) 68-69, Nobuhiro Masuda (JPN) 70-67

138 - Makoto Inoue (JPN) 70-68, Tony Carolan (AUS) 66-72, im Kyung-tae (KOR) 69-69, Iain Steel (MAS) 65-73

139 - Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 69-70, Shintaro Kai (JPN) 71-68, Simon Griffiths (ENG) 71-68, Lu Wei-chih (TPE) 69-70

140 - Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 69-71, Rahil Gangjee (IND) 72-68, Artemio Murakami (PHI) 71-69, Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 73-67, Lin Keng-chi (TPE) 67-73

141 - Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN) 69-72, Shinichi Yokota (JPN) 71-70, Takao Nogami (JPN) 67-74