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He is joined by co-leaders Freddy Schott and Richard Mansell after the second round
SINGAPORE, 22 March 2024 – A course-record 63 from Andy Sullivan handed him a share of the lead after Round 2 of the Porsche Singapore Classic, alongside co-leaders Freddy Schott and Richard Mansell.
In a round when scoring was generally more difficult than on Day One 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 (22 March).
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.
Singaporeans Nicklaus Chiam and Joshua Yap finished their campaign tied-128 with their overall score of 153, while compatriot Irvyn Tan (160) is 132nd.
The Porsche Singapore Classic continues tomorrow, with the final round taking place on Sunday (24 March). 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.
Event updates can be found on the Porsche Singapore Classic website, as well as its Facebook and Instagram pages. Tickets to the Porsche Singapore Classic are available here. Children aged 16 and under receive complimentary entry when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. The Porsche Singapore Classic spectator village will feature a multitude of activities, food & beverage and entertainment options for golfers and non-golfers alike.
Credit: Porsche Singapore Classic