Taipei, 12-09-2014
Lahiri fires a 66 to be tied fourth at the halfway stage in Taipei
Rashid placed tied 13th
Indian star Anirban Lahiri fired the low round of six-under-66 at the halfway stage of the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship (TPC) to stay hot on the heels of the leaders on Friday.
The four-time Asian Tour winner fired six birdies on his homeward nine for a two-day total of five-under-par 139 to stay two shots back from joint leaders Antonio Lascuna of the Philippines and Cameron Smith of Australia at the US$500,000 Asian Tour event.
Lahiri, currently ranked second on the Order of Merit, struggled to an opening 73 but produced a brilliant fight-back without making any bogeys to put himself in a good position to challenge for a fifth Asian Tour victory.
“I have been waiting for this to happen. I’ve been hitting the ball so good even in Switzerland last week but I haven’t really made a lot of birdies to score. It was the same story yesterday and on my front nine today,” said Lahiri.
“It’s nice to get back into contention again. I’m really excited about the weekend now. I just need to keep doing what I’ve been doing,” he added.
It will be a big week for Lahiri at the Yeangder TPC as a victory will edge him closer to the Order of Merit leader David Lipsky of the United States, who overtook Lahiri on the standings following his win at the European Masters in Switzerland.
“I’ve to play really well all the way until the end of the year to put myself closer to David. I need to push myself harder, be it to boost my rankings on the Order of Merit or on the world rankings. I’ve got quite a lot of catching up to do,” smiled the 27-year-old Lahiri, who is ranked 98th in the world.
Rashid Khan followed up his first round of 71 with a 70 to end the day in tied 13th place at three-under-141.
Jyoti Randhawa and Rahil Gangjee were both in tied 26th place at one-under-143.
Chiragh Kumar totaled one-over-145 after two rounds and became the fifth Indian to make the cut. He was in tied 45th place.
Himmat Singh Rai (three-over-147) and Sujjan Singh (four-over-148) were the two Indians who missed the halfway cut of two-over-146.
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