England's Tommy Fleetwood took a one-stroke lead after firing a three-under 69 in the second round of the $1 million Thailand Golf Championship on Friday.
For the second day running, gusting winds and the thick rough troubled the entire field at Amata Spring Golf and Country Club.
Fleetwood was on four-under for the tournament, one clear of compatriot and 2011 champion Lee Westwood and Australia's first-round co-leader Marcus Fraser.
A further stroke back were 24-year-old Thai national Tirawat Kaewsiribandit and Jonathan Moore of the US who shot 72 and 71 respectively.
Lurking in joint sixth place on one-under for the tournament were US Open champion Martin Kaymer, local star Thongchai Jaidee and Paul Peterson of the US.
Defending champion Sergio Garcia suffered a double-bogey at the 18th as he slipped back with a 75.
Joint overnight leader Thanyakon Khrongpha also had a bad day, struggling with a five-over 77.
"My game felt good," said Fleetwood who sank four birdies and had just one bogey.
"I played really well and had only three or four bad shots, which is what you need in these windy conditions."
The 24-year-old Fleetwood, who won the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles last year, said keeping the ball out of the rough was the key on such a punishing course.
Fraser was happy although did not play particularly well and needed some good putting to manage an even-par 72.
"I was pretty ordinary on the back nine, but managed to sink a few good putts to save par," he said.
The Australian, who suffered a long layoff this year due to a wrist injury, said he was especially sloppy at the third hole where he suffered a double bogey after struggling to get out of the rough.
"I was a bit amateurish and tried to get too greedy," he said.
"Missing the fairways is like having a one-shot penalty," he said.
Westwood said he was very pleased with his 71, following his first round 70.
"I played very well again today. It's tricky out there and the wind was stronger than in the first round," he said, adding that "the rough is brutal" on the Amata course.
"All in all it was a good round and puts me in a good position for the weekend," the English star concluded.
Bubba Watson, who fired a two-under 70 after a disappointing first round 76, said his putting was the key to his better score.
"I made a few puts early on and that gave me confidence," said the big-hitting left-hander. "I didn't hit any wayward shots and I got the momentum going."
But the American warned the course would remain tricky over the weekend if the wind keeps up.
The biggest casualty of the day, meanwhile, was French Ryder Cup star Victor Dubuisson who ballooned to 79 to miss the cut by some distance.
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