November 14: Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai (main picture) took the clubhouse lead midway through the second round of the US$400,000 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open on Friday,

Starting from the 10th tee of the par-72 Taifong Golf Club, Poosit did most of his scoring on his first nine, including three birdies in four holes from the par-three 15th, and picked up another shot on the back nine for a four-under par 68. That took his two-round tally to nine-under 135.

Another Thai player, Ekpharit Wu, shot the best round of the morning, a 66, and moved to 8-under total, two ahead of Australia’s Todd Sinnott (69), Sweden’s Charlie Lindh (69) and Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig (70). India’s S Chikarangappa, who recently became a father for the first time, moved up to -5 with a round of 70.

Spain’s Carlos Pigem (68), Chinese Taipei’s Liu Yen-hung (69), Korea’s Wooyoung Cho (72) were all at four-under on a day when the wind stayed calm but the golf course still proved to be a formidable opponent.

Ekpharit Wu of Thailand. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.

Overnight leader Hung Chien-yao, who led by two shots after a 65 on Thursday, was among the afternoon starters.

Poosit has not had a top 10 finish this season, and is ranked 107th on the Order of Merit, but he sensed something turning around in his game at last week’s Moutai Singapore Open, where he finished tied 37th.

“I hit my irons really well in Singapore, but could not make many putts. I have taken that confidence into this week, and even though my putting is still not at its best, I have continued to hit my irons well and given myself chances,” said the 32-year-old, who rated his birdie on the 18th, where he had to lay up to 80 yards and then made the up-and-down.

“It was not windy today in the morning, and when we played last afternoon, it was calm as well. So, I think we have been lucky with the draw so far.”

Ahmad Baig of Pakistan. Picture by Graham Uden / Asian Tour.

Ekpharit, whose father is from Chinese Taipei, also started from the 10th tee, was two-under at the turn, and did the bulk of his scoring between the par-five third and the seventh hole, where he made four birdies in a stretch of five holes.

The promising 26-year-old is currently ranked 73rd in the Order of Merit with two tied 14th finishes in the Link Hong Kong Open and the International Series Morocco being his best results.

“It was a very comfortable round today because my putter was working well. I made a few good ones to make birdies and a few good ones to save par from the 10-15 feet range,” said Ekpharit.

“I have a goal of finishing inside the top-five at least so that I have a chance to keep my card on the Asian Tour. This is my first full year on the Asian Tour and I really want to retain my card.”

The Taiwan Glass Taifong Open is the 18th leg of the Asian Tour’s 2025 season. There are three more events left on the schedule.