Ghei fires 67 to be placed second

Nine Indians in the top 10

New Delhi, March 31, 2010: Indian professionals had an excellent outing in round two of the SAIL Open on Wednesday as nine of them were placed in the top-10 at the halfway stage. This is perhaps the strongest presence that India has had in the top-10 after round two of an Asian Tour event in a long time.

The highest placed Indian is Gaurav Ghei, who came up with an immaculate five under 67 in round two to move up from overnight tied sixth to second. His total reads nine under 135 and he trails the leader, Richard Karlberg of Sweden, by one stroke.

Shamim Khan is the next best Indian. He is placed tied third at eight under 136. Jyoti Randhawa is two strokes behind Shamim in fifth place.

The cut was declared at one over 145. Sixty-eight professionals including thirty-one Indians made the cut. The lone amateur who made the cut was India’s Rashid Khan.

Gaurav Ghei (68, 67), playing at his home course, got off to a great start on the first hole as he hit a good second shot with his rescue (240 yards) to about a foot away and made eagle. He hit it close on the next six holes but didn’t hole a putt.

Ghei’s big break came on the 11th where he hit a really poor tee shot which hit the trees and came out. He had about 180 yards to the green from the rough and hit it in the left bunker and holed out. Ghei subsequently dropped a bogey on the 13th but hit it very close from there on to earn birdies on the 15th, 16th and 17th.

Ghei said, “It was a strange round because I started off hitting it really well but couldn’t convert my chances and on the back nine I was hitting it average and holed a few putts. I just need to keep doing what I have been doing these past two days and keep putting like how I did today.

“I know how to play the golf course so the key is to go out and do it, which is easier said than done. You got to hit the fairways off the tee and hopefully the putter will work after that.”

He added, “I’m a shot back so I’m obviously playing alright. I’ve won on this golf course before and had a couple of good finishes so I’m going to keep my fingers crossed and go out and have some fun.”

Shamim Khan (67, 69), who like Ghei, also calls the Delhi Golf Club his home course, is currently in tied third along with Thailand’s Chinnarat Phadungsil at eight under 136. Shamim’s 69 in round two included six birdies and three bogeys.

Shamim said, “I hit it really close today and therefore earned as many as six birdies. The lob wedge shot to within one foot on the first was my best moment of the day. Even though I’m in a pretty good position at the moment I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself and just want to get the simple things right such as driving as straight as possible and being consistent with the putter.

“The amazing success rate of Indians at the DGC in recent years has spurred me on to give it my best shot this week.”

Jyoti Randhawa produced a 68 on Wednesday to climb from tied 23rd to lone fifth. His total reads six under 138.

Shiv Kapur and SSP Chowrasia share sixth place at five under 139 while Rahil Gangjee, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Himmat Singh Rai and Pappan are in tied eighth with identical totals of four under 140.

KARLBERG KEEPS THE PACE AT THE SAIL OPEN

New Delhi, March 31: Richard Karlberg of Sweden tightened his grip in the SAIL Open after emerging as the early leader of the second round on Wednesday.

The Asian Tour rookie produced an impressive back nine performance highlighted by four birdies en route to a three-under-par 69 for a two-day total of 10-under-par 134 after the completion of the morning session at the Delhi Golf Club.

Unheralded Shamim Khan of India is two strokes off the lead after posting a 69 for a 136 total at the US$300,000 full field event, which is celebrating its third edition on the Asian Tour Schedule.

The afternoon play is currently in progress.

Indian duo Shiv Kapur and S.S.P Chowrasia carded a 72 and 73 respectively to finish on 139, five strokes off the lead while Japanese Kodai Ichihara recovered from his opening 76 with a sizzling 64, sprinkled with nine birdies against one bogey to tie alongside Filipino Artemio Murakami on 140.

Starting from the back nine, Karlberg endured a slow start where he turned in 37. He bounced back brilliantly after a birdie four on the first hole where he reached the green in two.

“It was a good recovery on the back nine and my game plan is to get to 18-under, I think that would be the winning score,” said the 23-year-old, who won the Swedish domestic tour Order of Merit in 2007.

Karlberg, playing in only his second Asian Tour tournament, was delighted to remain in contention but he is not taking his lead lightly.

“There wasn’t pressure on me despite coming in as leader. I just need to keep my shots straight like how I did in these past two days and see how it goes,” added the Swede.

Leading second round scores:
134 - Richard KARLBERG (SWE) 65-69
136 - Shamim KHAN (IND) 67-69
139 - S.S.P. CHOWRASIA (IND) 66-73, Shiv KAPUR (IND) 67-72
140 - Artemio MURAKAMI (PHI) 69-71, Kodai ICHIHARA (JAP) 76-64
141 - Baaz MANN (IND) 69-72, S.Siva CHANDHRAN (MAS) 71-70
142 - Peter COOKE (AUS) 69-73, Vijay KUMAR (IND) 72-70, R. SRINIVAS (IND) 70-72, Sanjay KUMAR (IND) 72-70, HSU Chia-Jen (TPE) 70-72