Suradit Yongcharoenchai (Thai) shot a second round 71 to extend his lead to two shots in the $2.5 million International Series – Qatar on the Asian Tour.

24 year-old Yongcharoenchai, who turned professional in 2015, started the day one shot ahead of three players.

With a morning tee time, he started on hole one at 7.30 am went birdie – birdie from the off.

Out in one under par 35 he came home in a one birdie – one bogey back nine of level par 36.

He is looking to bounce back from a poor 2022 season when he finished 81st on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, when a 10th place finish in the Mercuries event was the highlight of his year.

‘I was very happy with the 68 yesterday and today I feel even more happy with one under par in this wind. Today was more windy,’ commented the leader who has tasted victory once before on the Asian Tour at the 2019 Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

‘Today into the wind I hit three clubs more, and maybe had to aim 30 yards right (on cross wind shots), it was very windy.’

‘My caddie and I feel in these conditions the par is about 75. I have been driving the ball well, and when I miss they haven’t been bad misses. I have very good distance control with my irons considering the strong wind, and have also been putting well,’ he added.

In second place two back is Ben Leong (Malaysia), with his afternoon tee time and two nines of 35, to go along with his 71 round one, to be one of only three players to beat par in both the first two days.

The 36 hole cut looks like falling at six over par, with Dubai based Shiv Kapur (Ind) and Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) hopefully making it through on the mark at six over.

Second Round Leaders (Par 72, 7,437 Yards)1 - S. Yongcharoenchai (Thai) 68, 71 = 1392 - B. Leong (Malaysia) 71, 70 = 1413 - T. Smyth (Aus) 70, 72 = 142     A. Ogletree (US) 71, 71 = 142