Liang, Nirat lead Avantha Masters

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GREATER NOIDA, India, March 15 (UPI) -- Chapchai Nirat and Liang Wen-Chong each turned in 6-under-par 66s Friday and shared the lead halfway through the European Tour's Avantha Masters in India.

Nirat had seven birdies and Liang had eight in moving to 12-under 132, two up on the field, after 36 holes.

Tied for third at 10-under are: Tommy Fleetwood, who shot 65; David Drysdale and Joonas Granberg, who had 67s; and Chawalit Plaphol, whose 18th-hole bogey gave him a 68.

Chinnarat Phadungsil, who was 11-under Thursday for the first-round lead, followed with a 2-over 74 and dropped into a tie for seventh. Phadungsil had a string of seven birdies Thursday over Nos. 10-16 but was 4-over on those holes Friday.

Liang, who started Friday on the second nine of the Jaypee Golf and Spa Resort course, had four birdies and a pair of bogeys on his first nine. He had three birdies over Nos. 1-4 and pulled into a tie for first with a birdie on his final hole of the day.

Nirat had three birdies in his final five holes to get to 12-under.