Digboi, Assam, 20-11-2014
Shankar Das enjoys two-shot advantage at halfway stage
Vishal Singh shoots day's best to be second
Kolkata’s Shankar Das followed up his opening round 65 with a three-under-69 in round two to enjoy a two-shot advantage at the halfway stage of the IndianOil Servo Masters Golf 2014. Das totaled 10-under-134 for two days at the Digboi Golf Links.
Jaipur’s Vishal Singh shot the day’s joint best score of 67 to be placed second at eight-under-136.
The cut fell at three-over-147. Fifty-two professionals made the cut.
Shankar Das (65-69), the overnight leader by three shots, seemed to be heading for another low score as he was chipping it to perfection in the first half of the round. Das produced two chip-ins for birdies and landed it within a few inches on two more occasions to be five-under through the first 11 holes. But his short-game deserted him on the last seven holes as he chipped and putted poorly for bogeys on the 13th and 17th and a missed birdie opportunity on the 14th.
Shankar said, “Everything was going for me on the first 11 holes but then it fell apart. It was as if I played on two different courses. I chipped brilliantly in the first part of the round but the bogey on the 13th changed it all. I just lost focus. I missed short putts and chipped poorly from there on.
“The third round will be decisive. I’ll need to stay focused throughout if I have to carry a good lead into the final round. The course conditions are outstanding this year and the Digboi Golf Links has never played better,” added Das.
Vishal Singh (69-67) climbed from overnight tied third to second place after shooting the day’s joint best score of five-under-67. Vishal had six birdies to show on his card against one bogey. He came up with some excellent approach shots to set up tap-in birdies on three occasions. The highlight of his round was the chip-in from 80 yards on the eighth.
Vishal said, “It was a better day for me today. I was delighted with the chip-in towards the end of my round. I was in trouble on the eighth but managed a great recovery with the chip-in. It sets up the tournament for me.”
Jamshedpur’s Karan Taunk, the leader in the 2014 Emerging Player of the Year list, was red hot through the first 15 holes as he put together seven birdies against a lone bogey to be six-under for the day. However, bogeys on the 16th and 17th restricted the 25-year-old to a round of 68 and a share of third place at seven-under-137 along with Sri Lankan N Thangaraja. Thangaraja’s 67 was the day’s joint best score along with Vishal Singh’s round.
Bangalore’s C Muniyappa, who made an eagle-two with a chip-in from 30 yards on the 14th, was in magnificent chipping form during his round of 69. He also had five birdies and four bogeys in round two. Shamim Khan of Delhi also fired his second straight 69 like Muniyappa to join the latter in tied fifth at six-under-138.
Defending champion Kunal Bhasin of Australia was tied 46th at three-over-147 and made the cut by one shot.
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