Hong Kong, 24-11-2017
Chawrasia stretches lead to two in second round of UBS Hong Kong Open
Shubhankar drops to tied 15th
India’s SSP Chawrasia (65-66) doubled his overnight advantage to two when he carded a second round four-under-66 to continue leading the UBS Hong Kong Open on Saturday.
Despite the gusty conditions at the Hong Kong Golf Club, the six-time Asian Tour winner remained unperturbed as he even extended his lead to five at one stage after birdies on holes three, seven, eight, 10 and 13.
His card was marred by a lone bogey on the par-four 14 and with South Africa’s Thomas Aiken returning with the day’s lowest score of 64 to take second place, the Indian’s lead was eventually cut to two at nine-under-131.
SSP said, “It was a great round today. I was five-under at one time but then three-putted 14. I hit a good tee shot and a good second shot to within 10 feet. My first putt went past the hole by about three feet and I continued to miss from there. But still, it's a good score. I'm happy.
“I think the greens are very fast here and it’s a little bit windy, of course. That's why I think the players are struggling. I'm just following my game-plan. Same thing, I'm playing last two days, exactly the same strategy. I don't want to change anything. I’m feeling more confident today than yesterday.”
The Indian is currently in fourth place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and remains in contention to become the next Indian to lift the prestigious merit crown after Anirban Lahiri (2015), Jeev Milkha Singh (2006 & 2008), Arjun Atwal (2003) and Jyoti Randhawa (2002).
Shubhankar Sharma followed up his first round 66 with a 71 on Friday to drop from overnight tied second to tied 15th. His two-day total stood at three-under-137.
Rashid Khan was tied 26th at one-under-139, while Mukesh Kumar, in tied 56th at two-over-142, was the fourth and last Indian to make the cut. The cut fell at two-over-142.
Source: Asian Tour
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