Ho Tram, Vietnam, 04-12-2015
Himmat Rai shares third place on weather-hit day at Ho Tram Open
Anirban Lahiri tied 14th in round two of Hero World Challenge
India's Himmat Rai shared third place after returning a fine two-under-69 in gusty conditions on the weather-hit second day of the inaugural US$1.5 million Ho Tram Open on Friday. Rai's seven-under-135 total placed him three shots behind the clubhouse leader Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei.
Strong gusts in the afternoon, which reached up to 25mph and moved golf balls on the greens, forced officials to suspend play for two hours. Fifty eight players were set to return on Saturday morning to complete their remaining holes.
Rai, whose lone Asian Tour title came in 2011, fired four birdies which included three in a row from the fifth hole to move into contention at the The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip on a wind-swept day at.
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“It was just guess work out there. It was pretty hard. Making pars became tough, especially on the par fives which doesn't happen often. It was sometimes a four club difference (in the wind),†said the 28-year-old Indian, who has been without a top-10 since the start of 2013.
The next best Indian was Gaganjeet Bhullar, who tumbled from overnight seventh place to 32nd after being four-over through 11 holes. Rahil Gangjee was five-over through 13 after his first round 67 and was tied 46th. Jeev Milkha Singh completed both rounds and with 70-73, he was tied 61st. Shiv Kapur also finished with 71-73 and waited to see if he made the cut.
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Elsewhere, at the Hero World Challenge being played in the Bahamas, Anirban Lahiri (69-70) was down from overnight tied 10th to tied 14th after his second round of two-under-70. Lahiri's two-day total of five-under-139 placed him six shots behind the leading trio of Americans Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker and Bill Haas.
Lahiri was left disappointed with his 70 that included a double bogey on the 18th. “It was a 70 that felt like an 80,†said Lahiri. “You could see what happened. I missed so many chances.â€Â
Lahiri started great with three birdies in six holes. Then he admitted an error on the seventh, when he missed a four-footer for birdie. On the ninth, he missed an up-and-down from the edge of the green.  “I need to do some putting drills and need to get that confidence back in it.â€Â
“I hit the ball well enough as anyone. I should have been in double digits and I am not even close to it. The putts just did not fall,†said Lahiri. “This could have been a 65.â€Â
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