LIV Golf: Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra cards 63 to lead by 5 at Bangkok Invitational

Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra shot a superb 63 in the second round of the LIV Golf Bangkok Invitational to open up a five-shot lead with one day left.

Chacarra, 22, is making his fifth appearance on the LIV Golf Tour at Stonehill Golf Course this week and on Saturday, he shot his lowest score since joining the series.

The Spaniard made seven birdies and an eagle on the par-5 6th hole to shoot 9-under-par. He is 16-under for the week and five shots ahead of Richard Bland, Sihwan Kim, Harold Varner III and Patrick Reed.

Ahead of joining the Saudi-backed series, Chacarra attended Oklahoma State University and won three times as an amateur. He reached No.2 in the amateur rankings and he also made four previous appearances on the PGA Tour.

According to MARCA, Chacarra was offered between £8 million and £15 million to join Greg Norman's ranks for three years. He is part of the Fireballs team with Sergio Garcia, Carlos Ortiz and Abraham Ancer.

.@Eugeniochacarra banks one last birdie on 18

He is in the lead at 16 under after 2 rounds

Watch here ⬇️https://t.co/VopBjVyY4e#LIVGolfBangkok #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/bmbh0Z6xXU

— LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) October 8, 2022

"This contract gives me peace of mind and ensures the future of my family. (I) have already achieved everything as an amateur and now I will be able to gain experience as a professional," Chacarra said ahead of joining LIV Golf.

Brooks Koepka shot his second 67 of the week in Thailand to reach 10-under. The four-time major champion is yet to finish in the top 10 of a LIV event in what is his fifth start.

On Friday, Koepka shared the frustrations of Bryson DeChambeau and Greg Norman when the Official Golf World Ranking denied the Bangkok Invitational of OWGR points.

"Yeah, I mean, I don't think it really was much of a response. I don't think... I just hate when you sit on the fence, just pick a side. Yes or no, just pick one. So, I'm not a big fan of that," he said.

Chicago Invitational winner Cameron Smith has had a disappointing week thus far, carding scores of 72 and 70 to sit on 2-under in tied 35th place.

.@Eugeniochacarra takes a 4 shot lead

Watch here ⬇️https://t.co/VopBjVyY4e#LIVGolfBangkok #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/0dlO4VW2SA

— LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) October 8, 2022

LIV Golf Bangkok Invitational - Round Two Leaderboard:

-16 E Lopez-Chacarra

-11 R Bland, S Kim, P Reed, H Varner III

-10 J Piot, B Koepka

-9 M Leishman, K Na, L Westwood

-8 L Canter, P Casey, C Howell III, J Morgan, I Poulter