Asian Tour: Varner III and Arnaus take surprise lead heading into third round of PIF Saudi International
- Harold Varner III and Adri Arnaus have two-shot lead after upstaging more illustrious rivals
- Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho misses cut after second round 73 left him 5-over for the tournament
American Harold Varner III and Spain’s Adri Arnaus will take two shot leads into the third round of the PIF Saudi International on Saturday.
The pair upstaged some their more illustrious rivals at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club with matching 4-under par 66s in Friday, to move to 10-under for the tournament.
Australian Cameron Smith and Matthew Wolff from the United States, carded 66 and 67 respectively, and sit on 8-under, with the England’s Tommy Fleetwood a shot further back.
Overnight leader Matteo Manassero from Italy came in with a 73 and fell back to 5-under, defending champion Dustin Johnson is 4-four under while Korean star Joohyung Kim, who won the Asian Tour Order of Merit title last month, returned a 73 and is 2-under.
But Taichi Kho’s tournament is over, after the Hongkonger narrowly missed out on making the weekend. Kho’s second round 73 left him 5-over, with the cut line at 4-over.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s amateur sensation Ratchanon Chantananuwat continued his remarkable run of making the cut at every professional event he has played in when he carded a 71.
The 14- year-old, who finished third at The Singapore International on the Asian Tour last month, is level par for the tournament having opened with a 69.