Manila, The Philippines, 11-11-2016
RANDHAWA SETS SEASON'S RECORD AT RESORTS WORLD MANILA MASTERS
Source: Asian Tour
India’s Jyoti Randhawa snatched the outright lead by establishing this season’s lowest 36-hole score with his second round seven-under-par 65 at the US$1 million Resorts World Manila Masters on Friday.
Randhawa, who was Asia’s number one in 2002, has yet to drop a shot after two rounds and his two-day total of 15-under-par 129 saw him enjoy a two-shot advantage over Thailand’s Sutijet Kooratanapisan and Tirawat Kaewsiribandit at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club.
India’s S.S.P. Chawrasia produced one of his best rounds of the year by carding a 64 to occupy fourth place.
Randhawa started the day tied for the lead with four other players but quickly broke away from the pack with three successive birdies starting from the par-four 11 in his opening back-nine.
After turning in 32, the 44-year-old marked his card with three more birdies on holes one, five and eight, to set himself up nicely, for a shot at clinching his ninth Asian Tour title this week.
“I found the rhythm back in my swing and I just stuck with that and decided to do the same thing today. I was a bit tentative on the first hole but I told myself, let’s do what I did yesterday.
“I put my head down and made three great swings, three great putts and played those three holes fabulously well. After that, I knew what I needed to do and just stuck to that game plan,” said Jyoti.
Chawrasia also had a round to remember especially when he stormed home by firing six birdies in seven holes.
After turning in 33, the four-time Asian Tour winner went further ahead with another birdie on 10 only to be pegged back by a double-bogey on 11.
“I got a little annoyed with myself after that double bogey on 11. But my caddie told me to calm down and what’s past is past. I changed my mindset and managed to go on that birdie run,” said Chawrasia.
The Indian then showed great recovery by charging back with his birdie blitz starting from the par-four 12.
“It felt really good. It has been a long time since I last made 11 birdies in a round so I’m really happy. The difference between yesterday and today was the putts. I managed to make lots of putts from 10, 15 feet,” said Chawrasia.
Both Chikkarangappa (67)and Gaganjeet Bhullar (66) were also well-placed in tied 11th at nine-under-135.
Chiragh Kumar closed the day in tied 27th at seven-under-137 while Shiv Kapur was a further stroke back in tied 33rd.
Shubhankar Sharma was placed tied 45th at five-under-139.
The cut was declared at four-under-140 and Jeev Milkha Singh was the eighth and last Indian to make the cut at four-under-140 in tied 60th place.
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