Thailand’s leading two players are set to mount a challenge on the pony-tailed Miguel Angel Jimenez who takes a one shot lead into the closing two rounds of the inaugural co-sanctioned Thailand Classic.

Jimenez is not only looking to win for a second time this year but also to break his own record of becoming the oldest winner on the European Tour.

The 51-year old Malaga-born golfer is struggling with a bout of the flu but it didn’t deter him from adding a sizzling second round 66 to his earlier 67 and move to 11-under par on the Black Mountain course.

Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez leads by a shot with two rounds to play in the Thailand Classic. (Photo – Thos Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

Jiménez had played flawless until he dropped a shot at the last to show the door to playing partner Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat who birdied the same hole from eight feet for a second straight round of 67 to be in second place on 10-under par.

And just a shot behind sharing third place on nine-under par is Thailand’s prolific-winning Thongchai Jaidee who carded a 66.

“I’m very happy,” said Jiménez. “I am disappointed to make bogey on the last but overall I played very solid and made a lot of birdies.

“I was hitting shots right at the flags today. You need to be in the right places on the greens to put the ball on the right side of the hole, because the putts are very fast – I like it.

Thos Caffrey’s great shot of Scotland’s Scott Jamieson blasting out of a bunker on day two of the Thailand Classic. (Photo – Thos Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

“I have the flu and I’m very bunged up and slept terribly last night, but apart from that I’m fine.”

Home favourite Aphibarnrat eagled the long second for the second day running, as well as carding six birdies and three bogeys.

And the 25 year old admitted it was not going to be easy overhauling a man more than twice his age over the weekend.

“We’ve been playing a lot in Europe last year and he’s a really nice guy,” he said. “But it’s not easy to beat an old guy like him! He hits the ball very far and is striking it very well. He’s a world-class player in my eyes.”

And Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat was celebrating after he aced the 192 yard 14th hole and with his prize being a new house.

“I’m still shaking after finishing 18 holes,” he said. “It’s the second time I got a hole-in-one in my career; all I got the first time was two shots but this time I really got something! I’ve seen the pictures of the house every day since I arrived here, and now it’s mine.”

Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat points out the ace on the 14th hole on his score card that earned him a new house. (Photo – Thos Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

And there was low key 36th birthday celebration for Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey who posted a level par 72 and a day after setting a new course record 64.

Hoey goes into the weekend rounds sharing sixth place on eight under par.