Joining tabuena

Link Hong Kong Open: Sarit Suwannarut kept the pedal to the metal, increasing his advantage on top of the leaderboard to four shots at the halfway stage of the US$22.22 million International Series Philippines, even as India's Gagamkeet Bhullar remained in the chasing pack and in contention for a top finish.

The two-time International Series winner added a six-under par 66 to his overnight 64 and reached 14-under par after 36 holes, four ahead of local hero Miguel Tabuena (65), who delighted his home fans with a stunning round that included a hole-in-one and an eagle in the space of three holes.

Joining Tabuena at 10-under was the in-form Japanese star Kazuki Higa (69). Another Japanese player, Yosuke Asaji (66), Korea’s Soomin Lee (67), Chinese Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan (67) and Hong Kong’s Matthew Cheung (67) were tied fourth at nine-under, while New Zealand’s Denzel Ieremia (67), American Patrick Reed (66) and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar (69) were tied eighth at 136, eight under.