Chapchai Nirat
Liang Wen-chong
Greater Noida, India, March 15, 2013: There was a very strong Asian touch to the leaderboard as Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat and China’s Liang Wen-chong, added second successive and matching 66s to share the halfway lead at the €1.8 million (approximately US$2.3 million) Avantha Masters on Friday at the to lead at the Jaypee Greens Golf Course.
Right on the
leading duo’s heels was the current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Chawalit
Plaphol of Thailand, as he carded a 68 to share third place alongside
Scotland’s David Drysdale, England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Finland’s Joonas
Granberg. The quartet was two shots behind the leaders, who were at
12-under-par 132 and the foursome following them was at 10-under.
The bunch for
tied seventh at nine-under included young Indian Abhijit Chadha, who was once
again not overawed by the big stage. He carded a neat three-under 69 that
included one bogey, his only one in the past 36 holes. Also tied with him was a
Rahil Gangjee, whose flawless 66 carried to nine-under and gave him a shot at
the title he missed narrowly in 2010, when he shared a seven-way lead after 54
holes before faltering in the final round.
First-round
leader Thai Chinnarat Phadungsil, who shot 11-under on first day was five-over
after 10 holes, before three birdies in the last saved him the blushes and
brought him to 74 and at seven-under he
was tied seventh.
Fourteen Indians
made the cut and it was one of the highest-ever by Indians in an European Tour
event.
Apart from Chadha
and Gangjee, Jeev Milkha Singh (69-68), Anirban Lahiri (68-69) and Gaganjeet
Bhullar (68-69) ere tied at 20th at seven-under. Ashok Kumar (68-71) was 28th
at five-under, while Jyoti Randhawa (70-70), Rashid Khan (67-73) and SSP
Chowrasia (68-72) were tied 39th, Himmat Rai (70-71), Manav Jaini (70-71),
Vikrant Chopra (72-69), Ajeetesh Sandhu (72-69) and Mukesh Kumar (72-69) were
tied 56th and on the cut line, which fell at thee-under.
Prominent
Indians to miss the cut were Shamim Khan (77-66), Chiragh Kumar (72-71), Khalin
Joshi (73-70) and Shiv Kapur (72-72).
Missing the cut
among leading stars was Edoardo Molinari (72-70), Anders Hansen (73-69),
Gregory Bourdy (74-68), Simon Dyson (73-70) Daniel Chopra (73-71), Thomas Levet
(72-73), and Colin Montgomerie (76-76).
Chapchai was
delighted that his booming drives played a key role in putting him into
contention. “I played very well indeed. This is a very long course and I
managed to hit the balls long the last two days. I also managed to hole several
long putts as well and luck did play a part in getting me into my position
today,” said the three-time Asian Tour winner.
Liang showed why
he is still one of China ’s
best players when he found himself back on familiar ground atop the
leaderboard.
“I had a good
break with my family and I feel all recharged now. I’ve learnt to stay patient
and my playing experience from all over the world has taught me well,” said
Liang.
Chadha, who has
shown great poise and character in the first two rounds, admitted that interactions
with Jeev Milkha Singh have helped. The youngster said, “In Chandigarh I train
with Jesse Grewal and I often talk to Jeev Milkha Singh when he is around and
we also play sometimes. Then Amritinder Singh (Jeev’s swing coach) is also in Chandigarh . They have so
much experience. I have learnt from them.
Gangjee was the
best performing Indian after he returned with a flawless 66. “I am feeling
relaxed and hitting the ball well, so let’s see how it goes over the weekend,”
said Gangjee.
“I’ve hit it close
on both days. I converted a few more putts today as compared to round one. I
sank a dramatic 50-footer for birdie on the third where the ball hit the hole,
jumped out and fell in. There were no destructive shots today,” added the
Indian.
Press release
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