Japanese teenager Ryo Hisatsune took an unexpected halfway lead after a nail-biting second round at the inaugural International Series Thailand on Friday.
The teen -- who only turned professional in 2020 -- hit a six-under-par 66 for a tournament best 14 under at the Black Mountain course at the seaside resort of Hua Hin.
The event is the first in the controversial Saudi-backed International Series on the Asian Tour, and carries a juicy $1.5 million purse.
"My course management today was very good. I am very happy," said Hisatsune, who managed seven birdies and a single bogey.
"It was so hot today, I am not used to this," added the teen.
Hisatsune is closely tailed by Korean players Sungyeol Kwon and Doyeob Mun, both with 66, although Mun expressed frustration with his play on Friday.
"I am disappointed not to birdie the last," he said. "Two more rounds to go though, so still a long way to go."
Further down the leaderboard was reigning Asian Tour No 1 Joohyung Kim (68), who remained optimistic despite slipping from his earlier lead.
"It is still an under-par round, and it's going to give me a chance," he said.
Korea's Taehee Lee shot 64, with South African Jaco Ahlers on 63, Thailand's Chanat Sakulpolphaisan on 66 and American Todd Baek carding 66.
And finally, Thailand's amateur sensation Ratchanon 'TK' Chantananuwat continued his run of making the cut in every Asian Tour event in which he has played.
While celebrating his 15th birthday, he shot a 68 to enter the weekend six under.
SECOND-ROUND SCORES
130 - Ryo Hisatsune (JPN) 64-66
131 - Sungyeol Kwon (KOR) 65-66, Doyeob Mun (KOR) 65-66
132 - Taehee Lee (KOR) 68-64, Chanat Sakulpolphaisan (THA) 66-66, Joohyung Kim (KOR) 64-68, Jaco Ahlers (RSA) 69-63, Todd Baek (USA) 66-66, Tirawat Kaewsiribandit (THA) 67-65
133 - Karandeep Kochhar (IND) 65-68, Bio Kim (KOR) 64-69, Sebastian Soderberg (SWE) 67-66, Scott Vincent (ZIM) 65-68, Phachara Khongwatmai (THA) 63-70, Ben Campbell (NZL) 65-68, Kwanchai Tannin (THA) 68-65
134 - Berry Henson (USA) 68-66, Honey Baisoya (IND) 67-67, Todd Sinnott (AUS) 66-68, Prom Meesawat (THA) 65-69, Sihwan Kim (USA) 62-72, Itthipat Buranatanyarat (THA) 64-70, Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA) 68-66
135 - Sirapob Yapala (am, THA) 67-68, Ian Snyman (RSA) 67-68, Atiruj Winaicharoenchai (THA) 70-65, Rory Hie (INA) 65-70, Viraj Madappa (IND) 65-70, Yuto Katsuragawa (JPN) 65-70, Dodge Kemmer (USA) 67-68
136 - Paul Peterson (USA) 69-67, Charng-Tai Sudsom (THA) 70-66, Steve Lewton (ENG) 68-68, Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA) 69-67, Janne Kaske (FIN) 64-72, Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA) 70-66, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 67-69, Angelo Que (PHI) 68-68, Hung Chien-yao (TPE) 69-67, Ajeetesh Sandhu (IND) 68-68
137 - Andrew Dodt (AUS) 69-68, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 69-68, Nicholas Fung (MAS) 68-69, Wade Ormsby (AUS) 67-70, Poosit Supupramai (THA) 72-65, Jarin Todd (USA) 69-68, Siddikur Rahman (BAN) 67-70, Kevin Yuan (AUS) 70-67, Andrew Martin (AUS) 71-66, Ryosuke Kinoshita (JPN) 68-69, Ben Leong (MAS) 66-71, Jack Harrison (ENG) 69-68, Aman Raj (IND) 67-70, Ben Jones (ENG) 69-68
138 - John Catlin (USA) 68-70, Jazz Janewattananond (THA) 68-70, Natipong Srithong (THA) 66-72, Josh Younger (AUS) 68-70, Kevin Phelan (IRL) 69-69, Sarit Suwannarut (THA) 70-68, Sattaya Supupramai (THA) 70-68, Ratchanon Chantananuwat (am, THA) 70-68, Miguel Carballo (ARG) 69-69, Mathiam Keyser (RSA) 67-71, S. Chikkarangappa (IND) 70-68, Denzel Ieremia (NZL) 66-72, Danthai Boonma (THA) 72-66, Pawin Ingkhapradit (THA) 70-68
139 - Shiv Kapur (IND) 71-68, Suradit Yongcharoenchai (THA) 69-70, Pannakorn Uthaipas (THA) 69-70, Kosuke Hamamoto (THA) 69-70, Hein Sithu (MYN) 69-70, Cole Madey (USA) 73-66, Taehoon Ok (KOR) 69-70, Denwit Boriboonsub (THA) 69-70, Jake Higginbottom (AUS) 69-70, William Harrold (ENG) 71-68
140 - Settee Prakongvech (THA) 69-71, Veer Ahlawat (IND) 74-66, Nirun Sae-Ueng (THA) 72-68, Neil Schietekat (RSA) 69-71, Richard T. Lee (CAN) 70-70, Scott Strange (AUS) 68-72, Inhoi Hur (KOR) 71-69, Seung Park (KOR) 70-70, Dechawat Phetprayoon (THA) 73-67, Sangchai Kaewcharoen (THA) 70-70, Scott Hend (AUS) 69-71, Zach Bauchou (USA) 68-72, Khalin Joshi (IND) 68-72, Christoffer Baumann (SWE) 67-73, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 68-72, Rashid Khan (IND) 67-73, Seungsu Han (USA) 69-71, Bjorn Hellgren (SWE) 71-69, Masanori Kobayashi (JPN) 66-74, Donlaphatchai Niyomchon (THA) 69-71
141 - Chang Wei-lun (TPE) 68-73, Tanapat Pichaikool (THA) 71-70, Liu Yanwei (CHN) 74-67, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 69-72, Naoki Sekito (JPN) 70-71, Ren Yonezawa (JPN) 71-70, KK Limbhasut (THA) 73-68
142 - Natchapol Srinoon (THA) 69-73, Micah Lauren Shin (USA) 72-70, Vanchai Luangnitikul (THA) 71-71, Yosuke Asaji (JPN) 75-67, Lu Wei-chih (TPE) 72-70.
143 - Chan Shih-chang (TPE) 71-72, Abdul Hadi (SIN) 72-71, Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij (THA) 68-75, Bongsub Kim (KOR) 74-69, Cory Crawford (AUS) 69-74, Chanachok Dejpiratanamongkol (THA) 70-73, Suttijet Kooratanapisan (THA) 72-71
144 - Mitchell Slorach (SIN) 71-73, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 73-71, Poom Saksansin (THA) 67-77, Aadil Bedi (IND) 72-72, S.S.P. Chawrasia (IND) 72-72, Kasidit Lepkurte (THA) 70-74
145 - Keith Horne (RSA) 73-72, Nitithorn Thippong (THA) 70-75, Ben Eccles (AUS) 72-73, Junghwan Lee (KOR) 76-69.
146 - Poom Pattaropong (THA) 71-75, Benjamin Follett-Smith (ZIM) 71-75, Pongsapak Laopakdee (am, THA) 73-73, Shinichi Mizuno (JPN) 76-70.
147 - Udayan Mane (IND) 72-75, Piya Sawangarunporn (THA) 73-74, Nattapong Putta (THA) 73-74
148 - Witchayapat Sinsrang (THA) 77-71, Rahil Gangjee (IND) 76-72, Daniel Fox (AUS) 74-74, Will Heffernan (AUS) 76-72.
150 - Simon Yates (SCO) 74-76
152 - Lionel Weber (FRA) 78-74, Danny Masrin (INA) 79-73