Andy Sullivan’s course-record 63 in the second round of the Porsche Singapore Classic catapulted him into a tie for the lead with co-leaders Freddy Schott and Richard Mansell.
In a round when scoring was generally more difficult than on the first day at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club, Sullivan bucked the trend to come home in 28 and get to nine-under with fellow Englishman Mansell and German Schott, who both fired rounds of 69 on Friday.
Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat had shared the first-round lead but a 72 dropped him into a tie for second, with 34 players within five shots of the lead. French duo Matthieu Pavon and Romain Langasque, and English pair Sam Bairstow and Paul Waring are also tied second at eight-under.
Sullivan has enjoyed a productive 2024 season so far, making eight of ten cuts with two top-ten finishes, already surpassing his total for last term.
Starting on the tenth, Sullivan took advantage of two of the three par-fives on the back nine but came to life from the first, picking up five shots in four holes before adding further gains on the sixth and eighth to get to nine-under.
“It was unreal, I just caught fire,” said the four-time DP World Tour winner, whose 63 was the lowest round of the day by four shots. “Knocked it close on one and holed a good one on two and then literally three feet for eagle on three.
“I felt like I played well yesterday without the score being there but golf being the crazy game that it is, it has a way of rewarding you sometimes.”
Frederik Schott of Germany. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
A 2022 European Challenge Tour graduate, Schott lost his card in his rookie season but regained it in some style by winning the Final Stage of the Qualifying School in November. He arrived in Singapore off the back of a tie for 11th at the Jonsson Workwear Open – his best result of the season so far – and continued that form with an opening 66.
Birdies on the eighth, 13th and 16th in Round 2 saw him hit the summit and he was delighted to keep moving in the right direction.
“It feels good to see the trend coming up again,” he said. “It was a very, very solid two days and I’m looking forward to the weekend.
“It’s not that difficult if you put yourself in good positions and that’s what I executed very well and what makes the course enjoyable for me.
“I’m just going to keep doing what I do and hopefully it will work out the same way it did the first two days.”
Richard Mansell of England. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
Mansell has been a picture of consistency in the 2024 season so far, finishing no lower than 25th in six events. He was tied-sixth here last year.
He carded five birdies on Friday, with a double-bogey at the ninth the only blemish – the same hole where he had a double last season and which he bogeyed in Round One.
“I played quite nice on the front today,” said Mansell. “I started to hit some good shots towards the end again but in the middle of the round I really had to grind a little bit, I was getting frustrated.
“I really felt like a score was there to be shot, I feel really good with my game but my short game and putter got me out of jail a little bit in the middle of the round.
“For me that’s really good because in the past that’s what’s let me down and I’ve worked really hard in that area and today it showed.”
Matthieu Pavon of France. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
World Number 27 Pavon carded a 68 with the help of a huge double-breaking putt for eagle on the 13th, a score matched by Bairstow, while Langasque signed for a 67 and Waring recorded a 69.
Defending champion Ockie Strydom carded a 74 and sits at tied-62nd entering the weekend.
Malaysia’s Gavin Green, who shared the lead after the first round, slipped down the leaderboard, dropping shots on the outward nine to land in a tied 15th position, trailing the leaders by three strokes.
“It was just one of those starts, I got unlucky, then got into the rhythm and managed to bring it back,” said Gavin of his double bogey on the opening hole and his subsequent two bogeys on the outward nine.
“I gave myself chances and managed to make some birdies. Took some risks and at times took the safer routes. Had to get the momentum and keep going,” said the Malaysian who posted a two-over 74 for six-under 138.
Gavin Green of Malaysia
The Porsche Singapore Classic continues tomorrow, with the final round taking place on Sunday. This year’s event welcomes Porsche as its new Title Partner, with the German automobile giant continuing its long-standing relationship with the DP World Tour by extending its global golf involvement.
