GOLF: Australian Scott Strange shot a seven-under par 65 Friday to grab the clubhouse lead after a rain-interrupted second-round of the $1 million Thailand Open at Thana City Golf & Sports Club near Bangkok.
Strange, winner of OneAsia's first-ever tournament the Volvo China Open five years ago, went one better than his opening round and at the halfway stage sits at 13-under par on the 6,930-yard Greg Norman-designed course.
Japan's Azuma Yano, Brazilian Lucas Lee, and Australian Terry Pilkadaris had a share of second place in the clubhouse, with eight others a shot further behind -- including some still to complete their rounds.
Defending champion Chris Wood, three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington, Koreans Hwang Jung-Gon, Lee Kyoung-Hoon, and Cho Min-Gyu and Thailand's Thanyakon Khrongpha finished on 11 under.
The round of the day belonged to Thai youngster Thanyakon, who equalled the course record 63 set by Welshman Ian Woosnam in 1996.
Paul McGinley, recently named captain of Europe's Ryder Cup team for 2014, was forced to withdraw mid-way through the second round with a bad back.
The second round will resume on Saturday with 36 players still to finish before the cut is made.
135 - Masamichi Uehira (JPN) 70-65, Michael Hendry (NZL) 71-64, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 68-67, David Smail (NZL) 69-66, Simon Yates (SCO) 66-69, Scott Laycock (AUS) 71-64.