Local favourite Jyoti Randhawa upped the ante of the game and climbed to the pole position, after losing out top position in round one by a whisker, as he carded a four-under 68 to move to nine-under 135, joining the overnight co-leader Australian Tony Carolan (69) at the midway stage of the US $ 400,000 SAIL Open played at the Jaypee Greens here on Thursday.
The duo of Randhawa and Carolan was just a one shot ahead of 45-year-old veteran Wang Ter Chang of the Chinese Taipei, whose five-under 67 in round two put him at eight-under 136 and in third place.
Overnight co-leader Ross Bain (71), Fijian Dinesh Chand (70), big-hitting Australian Scott Hend (70) and the surprise pack, 43-year-old Indian Dinesh Kumar (69) were all tied fourth at seven-under 137.
One shot further down was a seven-man multi-ethnic group with players from seven different nations. The field included India's Gaganjeet Bhullar (68), Filipino Angelo Que (70), Malaysian Danny Chia (70), Thai Panuwat Muenlek (67), Korean Noh Seung-yul (70), Australian Adam Groom (71) and Kiwi Mark Brown (69) all at six-under 136.
The tournament is still wide open, just like the fairways at the Greg Norman layout, with the 14 players within three shots of each other. A total of 21 Indians made the cut out of the 66 who started the event. The cut came at one-over 145 and 74 players made the weekend rounds.
Meanwhile the biggest disappointment of the day was Indian Masters winner, India's S.S.P Chowrasia ((72-74) who missed the cut alongwith Thai Thammannoon Srirot ((74-72), Harmeet Kahlon (73-73), Rahil Gangjee (73-74), Amandeep Johl (72-78) and Gaurav Ghei ((72-79).
Randhawa shot an even par on front nine with one birdie and one bogey but then propelled four birdies on the back nine for a 68 after carding first round 67.
On the tenth, where he had eagled on first day, he again went for the green and was just short. He chipped and putted for a birdie and then added two more on 11th and 12th. Yet another birdie followed on 15th, where he drove and then a 3-Iron shot, which gave him a birdie with a chip-putt birdie.
After a decent outing, Randhawa still called it a very average day. "As for the overall day, it was very average, but the score was quite good at 68. There are times when you play well and still come back with a 70. This time I played just average but the score was fine," he said.
"It was a cold start in the morning. There was frost in the morning and I got warmed really on the back nine," said Randhawa
On the SAIL Open, which makes it debut on the Asian Tour, Randhawa said, "It is always good to support a tournament at home. We have been having good results and this event can further help Indian golf."
Carolan, who had four birdies against one bogey, said, "It wasn't a great day. I battled from the 18th onwards, but still it is nice to be on the top," said Carolan.
"I was happy with my driving, but had a lot of problems with my 7-Iron," he added.
Ted Oh of Korea shot the best round with a six-under 66 that saw him make a good move up. After a one-over 73 in first round, he is now five-under 139 for 36 holes.
India’s Dinesh Chand, who came to the Asian Tour via the Qualifying School, led for a brief while after his second eagle of the day on the 12th, but then a bogey on 13th, a double on 14th and another bogey on 16th saw him drop down to seven-under.
Five birdies against just one bogey helped Scott Hend to make up for his error-prone front nine where he had three bogeys against one birdie, as he finished with a 70 to be seven-under for the tournament.
The Dubai-based Scot Bain was unable to match his bogey free round from first round, as he had just two birdies and one bogey in his 71. The two big falls included Lam Chih Bing of Singapore and Yasin Ali of England.
Lam Chih shot a two-over 74 including a double bogey on the closing 18th hole, and dropped to three-under 141 while Yasin Ali after a brilliant birdie-eagle-birdie start faltered on the back nine for a four-over 40 and ended at even par 72 for three-under 141.
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