Thai ace pulls ahead with 63 as Bisera stumbles late

MANILA, Philippines – Thai Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong unleashed a blistering nine-under 63 Thursday to seize a two-stroke lead, while Yvon Bisera faltered on the closing stretch and slipped seven shots off the pace after 36 holes of the Kenda Tires TLPGA Open at the Taichung International Golf Club in Taiwan. Santiwiwatthanaphong piled up nine birdies against no bogeys for an 11-under 133 total, leap-frogging from joint 17th into a commanding position in the NT$4-million championship co-sanctioned by the Taiwan LPGA Tour and the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour. Local standout You Chiang Hou, who shared the first-round lead, stayed within striking distance with a 68 for 135, while South Korea’s Seulgi Jeong matched Santiwiwatthanaphong’s fireworks for most of the day, firing a 65 to join Hou at two strokes behind. Bisera, meanwhile, appeared poised to remain firmly in the hunt after following her opening 67 with a steady start to her second round. The ICTSI-backed Filipina stayed on course for her projected nine-under target, overcoming an early setback on No. 3 with three birdies that put her at seven-under for the tournament with nine holes remaining. But her challenge unraveled on the back nine. After five consecutive pars, Bisera’s round unraveled on the par-4 15th when she missed...