Mars Pucay fired a five-under par 67 to gain a share of seventh place, four strokes behind Thai Chawalit Plaphol halfway through the Johnnie Walker Classic at the Phokeethra Country Club in Siem Reap in Cambodia yesterday.
Pucay, enjoying a fine season that included a joint 10th place finish with Angelo Que in the recent World Cup, actually had a six-under card after 15 holes but failed to rescue a par from the bunker on the par-3 16 for that 33-34 card.
He had a 137 as he joined Malaysian Airil Rizman (69) and Indian Baaz Mann, who scored a rare 2 on the par-5 17 en route to a seven-under 65.
Pucay made back-to-back birdies from No. 3, added another pair on Nos. 9 and 11 before birdying Nos. 14 and 15.
Juvic Pagunsan shot a three-under 69 to move up joint 15th with 139 while Artemio Murakami made a 70 for a share of 30th at 141.
Tony Lascuña, the best Filipino scorer in the first round of the $300,000 tournament with a 69, had two bogeys against a bogey for a one-over 73 and a 142 for joint 39th.
Plaphol fired a bogey 66 highlighted by three straight birdies from 11th as he seized the lead at 133, one ahead of Americans Corey Harris (65) and Anthony Kang (69) and compatriot Thongchai Jaidee, who also came through with a 66.