Defending champion Kosuke Hamamoto made a bold statement of intent to retain his title with a six under par 65 at Red Mountain Golf Club in Phuket today, marching up the leaderboard to sit one shot clear of the field.

His seven birdie round with just one dropped shot sees him leading into the weekend ahead of compatriot Waris Manathorn (67) in second place.

Fellow Thais Kammalas Namuangruk (69) and Panuphol Pittayarat (66) lie one shot further back on eight under par, followed by Amarin Kraivixien (66) to complete a Thailand sweep of the top positions.

With the Red Mountain course making its debut in the THB3 million co-sanctioned event by the Asian Development Tour and the All Thailand Golf Tour, Kosuke has a slight advantage over the field, having played this course before.

“It’s a very good course, in good condition and with nice views,” he said after his round. “I never really thought we would have a tournament here but that they made it happen so I’m grateful to compete.

“They used to be my sponsor here and I played here a couple of times during Covid with Sadom (Kaewkanjana) and Itthipat (Buranatanyapat),” he said.

“To be honest, coming to a different golf course this year kind of takes the pressure off in my opinion, because everyone is seeing this course for the first time.”

William Harrold of England is the only non-Thai player in the top ten, posting a second 68 to match his first day score to share sixth place with Poosit Supupramai (66), Runchanapong Youprayong (68), Tawit Polthai (65) and overnight leader Warun Ieamgaew (73).

Low round of the day went to Thai stalwart Itthipat Buranatanyarat who posted a seven-under-par 64 today to make up for his unfortunate 74 yesterday, where he started the tournament with an eight on the opening par four hole.

“It was a big hurdle for me,” he said after his round. “I just had to stick to my plan, get the ball on the fairway, find the green. Seven birdies today so it’s not so bad,” he added.

In 11th place on five under par, were Thailand’s Sangchai Kaewcharoen, Huang Chi of Chinese Taipei and Isaac Lam of Hongkong.

One shot further back were Chiu Han-ting of Chinese Taipei, together with the Thai quartet of Chayodorn Chanjaruphong, Itthipat, Thanpisit Omsin and Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij.

The ADT All Thailand Partnership tournament, a THB3 million co-sanctioned event by the Asian Development Tour and the All Thailand Golf Tour, is one of two ADT events scheduled for May, with the THB4 million Singha Laguna Phuket Open being held at Laguna Golf Phuket from May 9-12.

Main photo: Kosuke Hamamoto of Thailand pictured in action at the ADT All Thailand Partnership tournament at Red Mountain Golf Course, Phuket, Thailand. Picture courtesy of the All Thailand Golf Tour / Asian Tour.