Sungai Petani: Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat carded a blistering seven-under-par 65 to move atop the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the RM200,000 Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Sime Darby Harvard Championship on Thursday.

The 32-year-old, who opened his campaign with a 69, got off to a scorching start when he fired one eagle and four birdies to turn in 30. He led the chasing pack by two shots after compiling a two day total of 10-under-par 134 in the season-opening Asian Development Tour (ADT) event.

Chinese Taipei duo Chan Shih-chang, a one-time winner on the ADT, and Lee Yi-cheng posted matching 67s to share second place on 136 with Nils Floren of Sweden and local hope Nicholas Pua at the Harvard Golf and Country Club.

Malaysian Zurie Harun signed for a 70 for sixth place while compatriots R. Nachimuthu, Shaaban Hussin and local boy S. Sivachandhran, the 2010 ADT Order of Merit number one, returned with identical 69s to tie on seventh with overnight leader Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden, who carded a 72.

Wisut missed out his Asian Tour card at Qualifying School two weeks ago but is hoping to make amends by winning his maiden title on the ADT, which he is playing for the first time this week.

“My short game was very good today and I am pleased with my performance so far. Honestly, I think this is a relatively easy course for me but you really need to stay focused to play well here. Your short game must be good too so I guess it was an advantage for me,” said Wisut.

Chan, who claimed his breakthrough win on the ADT last September, hailed the ADT as a good platform for him to sharpen his game while he eyes a second win on the burgeoning Tour, which is a pathway to the premier Asian Tour.

“I feel like my game is getting better. I’m in a pretty good form coming into this week. My putting was not at its best but my driving and iron-play were good. My focus for this season is to play well on the ADT and hopefully, I can claim my second win soon,” said the 27-year-old.

The halfway cut was set at even-par with 50 players advancing into the final two rounds.

Leading second round scores:
134 – Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 69-65
136 – Chan Shih-Chang (TPE) 69-67, Lee Yi-cheng (TPE) 69-67, Nils Floren (SWE) 69-67, Nicholas Pua 69-67
137 – Zurie Harun 67-70
138 – R. Nachimuthu 69-69, Malcolm Kokocinski (SWE) 66-72, Shaaban Hussin 69-69, S. Sivachandhran 69-69
139 – Kemarol Baharin 73-66, Romain Bechu (FRA) 73-66, Choo Tze Huang (SIN) 71-68
140 – Clarke Lutton (SCO) 68-72, Arie Fauzi 70-70, Grant Jackson (ENG) 69-71, Casey O’Toole (USA) 72-68, Mohd Iylia Jamil 68-72, Jordan Sherratt (AUS) 68-72, Tony Lam 71-69