Last week, the cut-line for the Saudi International was a generous even-par as the winds whipped up around the Red Sea and Abraham Ancer walked away with the $1 million top prize.

As the star names hopped over to Oman to compete in the inaugural 2023 International Series event of the Asian Tour campaign, anyone of the players would have grabbed a +1 on their card.

The Thursday leader was grateful for a Friday 76.

The winds on the Indian Ocean were up to 30kph and the balls could not even stay on the tees as some unfortunate souls had to accept a halfway score verging on the ridiculous, as the cut-line was set at seven-over and the worst guys taking home +34 and +35 on their cards.

Last man Azzan Al Rumhy had no less than 10 sixes, one seven and a snowman on the card before he could call it quits for 36 holes, and not many faired much better.

Takumi Kanaya, one of Japan’s most exciting young prospects, made the most of slightly easier conditions in the morning to take the halfway lead in the $2 million event.

The world’s former number one ranked amateur shot a one-under-par 71 to reach four-under, an unassailable lead with the wind getting progressively stronger and blowing the field off course at Al Mouj Golf.

Another up-and-coming Japanese player Ryo Hisatsune, who also competed in the morning, is one shot back after carding a 70. They were two of only nine players to break par on a truly testing day.

Scores soared in the afternoon with wind speeds close to 30kph.

Canada’s Yonggu Shin, who led after the opening round with a 66, came in with a 76 to share third with Chilean Joaquin Niemann, Australia’s Zach Murray and Berry Henson from the United States.

Niemann showed his class by firing a 70 in the afternoon while Murray and Henson, who also played later, returned rounds of 72 and 73 respectively.

Kanaya is known for being a precision iron player and had to rely on that and more in order to overcome today’s turbulent conditions. “Today was a tough day, the breeze was very strong. But yeah, I’m feeling great, I shot 71 and that’s good score,” said Kanaya.

“I like ball control, it’s my favourite, so yeah I have a chance. Two more days so I will do my best.”