HONG KONG -- Asian Tour regular Phachara Khongwatmai upstaged early starters Cameron Smith and Bae Sang-Moon with a sizzling 10-birdie 63 to take a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Hong Kong Open on Friday.
The 22-year-old Thai player bagged four birdies on the way out and six on the back nine that, mixed with three bogeys, sent him to the top of the leaderboard at 12-under par for the tournament.
Australian Smith backed up his opening 63 with a 4-under 66 to share second place with South Korean Bae (63), who won twice on the PGA Tour before two years of national military service interrupted his career.
"Early alarm this morning, the body quite wasn't working," said Smith, who won his first major at last year's Open Championship. "It was a bit scrappy, to be honest. It was good to get out of there 3 or 4 under par. Hopefully I can keep improving."
Bae made a brilliant start on the composite Fanling course, with a birdie on the second hole before an eagle at the par-5 third.
"It was really good," said Bae, who pulled out this week's PGA Tour event in Bermuda to return to Asia and play. "I'm trying to find my game. The putting's good, the iron shot's good, so I'm really looking forward to playing this weekend."
Former major champions Graeme McDowell and Patrick Reed, who both carded 65s, remained in touch and are four and five shots off the pace, respectively.
Australian Wade Ormsby, who won the tournament for the second time when it was last played nearly four years ago before a COVID-enforced hiatus, missed the cut after shooting a 1-over 71.