Hend leaps ahead to split lead in Thailand

Bangkok - Australian golfer Scott Hend shot up to the top of leader board on Friday during the second round of the True Thailand Classic, sharing the front spot with Sweden's Pelle Edberg.

Edberg set a high bar reaching 12-under par in the morning session, but Hend caught up with no bogeys and four birdies in the afternoon and joined the Swede at the front of the pack to finish with 132 for the two rounds.

The four-day European Tour tournament is being held at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin.

"I like this course, I like the area, I like coming to Thailand as it's a friendly place. I always have a pretty good time," Hend said according to a report from the tour organisers.

Edberg spends several months of the year at the seaside resort and said he knows the layout of the greens well.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Thai local Panuphol Pittayarat had a bogey-free day with seven birdies that brought him up to second on Friday, carding seven-under 65 for the round and finishing just one-shot behind the frontrunners with 11-under 133.

First-round leader Peter Uihlein dropped back to third with one-under par 71 on his second day.

132 - Pelle Edberg (SWE); Scott Hend (AUS)

133 - Panuphol Pittayarat (THA)

135 - Simon Yates (SCO); David Lipsky (USA); Shaun Norris (RSA); Peter Uihlein (USA); Rhys Davies (WAL)

136 - Piya Swangarunporn (THA); Benjamin Hebert (FRA); Chiragh Kumar (IND); Rashid Khan (IND); Marc Warren (SCO); Javier Colomo (ESP)