Brandon Robinson Thompson will take a two-stroke lead into the weekend at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters after an impressive second round performance at Doha Golf Club. The Englishman reached ten under par after carding a four under par 68, securing his place at the top of the leaderboard.
Bogey-Free Round Secures Top Spot
Robinson Thompson, who graduated from the HotelPlanner Tour after finishing 18th on last year’s Road to Mallorca Rankings, delivered a bogey-free round, showcasing his skill and composure. The 32-year-old made two birdies and an eagle, ensuring he holds the halfway lead for the first time in his DP World Tour career.
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Chasing Pack: Ding, Li, and Kim Close Behind
Trailing by two shots are China’s Ding Wenyi and Li Haotong, both of whom fired five under par rounds of 67 to move to eight under. They are joined by South Korea’s MK Kim, the youngest winner in HotelPlanner Tour history after claiming the D+D REAL Czech Challenge title in 2018 at just 17 years old.
Strong Contenders in Fifth Place
In a share of fifth place are Japan’s Keita Nakajima, last year’s Hero Indian Open winner, and England’s Dan Brown, both sitting at seven under par.
Historic Moment for Armenia’s Jean Bekirian
A historic moment was also witnessed this week as Jean Bekirian became the first Armenian representative to make the cut at a DP World Tour event. Bekirian carded a two over par 74, finishing the day in a share of 34th place on two under.
Robinson Thompson Reflects on His Performance
Reflecting on his performance, Robinson Thompson said:
“It was a great morning. It was tough, actually. The wind was ripping early. I thought the pins were quite tricky, so it was a lot of discipline. I hit a lot of shots to 30-40 feet and took my two putts and tried to take advantage of holes I could give myself chances on. Snuck one in on 16, hit driver to three or four feet. Happy with how I stayed patient and it’s good to finish bogey-free.”
Course Familiarity Key to Confidence
Familiarity with the course has also played a key role in his strong showing so far.
“I’ve been here so many times. I used to come here every year for about five or six years. I’ve played this course 50 or 60 times. I’m so comfortable out here. There isn’t a shot that I probably haven’t seen already and I have a bit of support out here. I’ve had a lot of friends I’ve met who have come out and supported me. It’s like a home game for me and that’s where the confidence and comfort comes from.”
Exciting Weekend Ahead at Qatar Masters
With two rounds remaining, Robinson Thompson will aim to build on his lead and claim his first DP World Tour title. The weekend promises to deliver exciting golf as the chase for the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters trophy heats up.
