Ahmedabad, 01-02-2013
Scotsman McArthur takes lead, Kapur lying second, Gangjee, Bhullar sixth at Kensville Challenge
Andrew McArthur may not have got many birdies, but he made sure he did not drop any shots either, as he came back with a bogey-free three-under and took a two-shot into the weekend at the Gujarat Kensville Challenge on Friday. The 32-year-old Scotsman, with one Challenge Tour win dating back to 2008 against his name, is now eight-under 136 for two rounds and two shots clear of Shiv Kapur (71) and three ahead of overnight leader Spain’s Agustin Domingo (73), Dutchman Tim Sluiter (69) and another Scot Booth Wallace (71).
On a day, when India’s cricketing legend had the players, fans, officials and spectators enthralled with his visit to the Kensville Golf Country Club, the golfing conditions were much tougher during the second day’s play with a stronger wind and tougher pin positions.
Last year’s runner-up Rahil Gangjee (72-69) and 2011 Kensville champion Gaganjeet Bhullar (71-70) were tied sixth at three-under 141 as 19 Indians made the cut which fell at three-over. Young guns S Chikkarangappa (74-73) and Shubhankar Sharma (75-72) who were making their pro debut this week were among those making the cut, alongside veterans Mukesh Kumar 73-71) and Ali Sher (73-73).
Going out early in morning, the 30-year-old Kapur, who had led at the halfway stage last year, too, came back as the clubhouse leader, even as most of the field was still on the course. After his flawless five-under 67, his one-under 71 in second round gave him a total of six-under. But as the day wore on McArthur overtook him by two shots.
Kapur, who narrowly missed keeping his European Tour card, but will still get around a dozen starts in 2013, started strongly from the 10th. He had birdies at the 12th and 14th holes but came unstuck with a bogey at the par five 17th to reach the turn in one under.
He picked up a shot at the third hole before missing the green on the par-three eighth hole and failing to get up and down for par to finish with a 71.
Wiping the sweat of his forehead on a rather warm day, he wistfully added, “I had a chance to pull away from the field but I’m still right there.”
“I did not really have my A game today,” said Kapur. “I didn’t play as well as I did on the first day. It was a bit scrappy and didn’t hit it as close and made some soft bogeys. It (the round) was blemish free until the 17th and I was playing steady but nothing flashy. It was one of those days where I had to make the best of what I had.”
About the way the course has played, he added, “It’s the kind of course where you have to be on your game to perform and I didn’t quite have everything in there but I’m still in the mix and that is what’s important, it’s about getting off to a good start and I’m pretty happy with the position I’m in.”
McArthur said, “I hit it better today. I hit it closer and more often and didn’t hole as many putts though I still holed a couple of nice ones. It was really solid. I hit two bad shots all day at the 14th and 15th tees and managed to get away with pars (on them). I had tonnes of chances but you can’t expect to hole them all but I’m not missing by much at any point either.”
He added, “Honestly, I must have had seven or eight other chances from eight to 15 feet so it was really good. There’s still a long way to go on a course like this but I don’t think there is any advantage in holding back,” he said. “If you shoot level par here at the weekend you’ll be nowhere so you have to press on and see what happens.”
Gangjee, who played with Kapur, said, “I hit the ball and putted much better than the first day and that was the difference between the two rounds. I am just trying to focus on he positives and it helps like the big putt on the seventh. I had a great 30-35 footer on the seventh, just like yesterday for a birdie. The greens are very firm and will likely become firmer over the weekend.”
Bhullar was another Indian making a good upward move. After a 71 on first day, he added a two-under 70 that had two bogeys on sixth and eighth but he also had four birdies.
Coming back late in the afternoon, Domingo went to one-over par 73. Despite his scoring, which saw a swing of seven shots from first to second day, he said, “It might sound crazy but I actually played better from tee to green than I did on the first day but today I just didn’t hole any putts,” he said. “I missed four greens and made three bogeys so the putter was really cold, which is a pity really.”
“It’s a good place to be right now. I didn’t expect to be in this position going into the weekend and if I can keep going this way I will have a chance but we will see.”
Speaking about his mistakes, he said, “I made some stupid bogeys and was in the water at the third hole and had to drop. The last few tournaments of last year I was struggling with my putting so I was really happy with my first day here so I hope it comes back for the rest of the week.
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