Murakami 2 shots off Welshman

MANILA, Philippines - Artemio Murakami holed out with a bogey on the par-5 No. 9 for a 69 and dropped two strokes behind Welshman Craig Smith halfway through Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open at the Phokeethra Country Club in Seim Reap, Cambodia yesterday.

Murakami, winless on the Asian Tour since scoring a breakthrough win in the 2007 Iskandar Johor Open, appeared headed for a big windup after a 35 at the back with birdies on Nos. 3, 5 and 6.

But he fumbled with his first bogey in 36 holes on the ninth and missed closing on the leader with a 137 aggregate that included a four-under 68 in the opening round of the $300,000 event serving as the penultimate leg of this year’s Asian Tour.

Smith sizzled with a 66 and moved from joint eighth to the solo lead at 135.

Thai Annop Tangkamolprasert carded a 69 while India’s Shiv Kapur fired a 67 to join Murakami in second.

Five other Filipino bets made the cut at 145 with Mars Pucay and Jay Bayron slipping to 32nd from joint eighth with 73s for 143.

Tony Lascuna made a 71 while Rey Pagunsan turned in a 73 for 144s while Marvin Dumandan also shot a 71 for a 145.