PETER WHITEFORD LEADS BY TWO AT AVANTHA MASTERS HALFWAY

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Kirkcaldy's Peter Whiteford followed his opening 66 with a second round 68 to open up a two-shot lead at the Avantha Masters as the Scot chases his maiden European Tour title.
Sharing the lead with Spaniard Alejandro Cañizares overnight, Whiteford moved to ten under par at the halfway stage with six birdies, three bogeys and an eagle three on the long sixth at DLF Golf and Country Club.
The 31 year old Fifer (pictured) leads by two from Thailand’s Prom Meesawat, who birdied five of the last six holes in his best-of-the-week 64.
France’s Jean-Baptiste Gonnet compiled a 69 to sit to be one of four players in third place on seven-under 137.
Cañizares posted three bogeys on the back nine in a one over 73 to slip to five under, along with Jbe Kruger, Jamie Moul, 2010 winner Andrew Dodt and Marc Warren.
Whiteford was only one under for his outward nine, but curled in a 20 foot birdie putt at the fourth.
That was followed by a bogey at the next, but after reaching the green in two at the 538 yard sixth he sank a 30ft eagle putt and birdied the short eighth for good measure.
“I had a sticky patch at the start - it was freezing cold this morning and it's a lot harder,” said Whiteford.
“But once it warmed up a bit I started to play a bit better and gave myself a few chances. I had a good eagle on the sixth which kick-started me a bit to finish well. I hit driver and a six iron and then holed a good putt, about 30 feet across the slope.
“I wouldn't say the swing feels brilliant, but sometimes that's when you play your best golf, when you're struggling a wee bit. I just need to concentrate - to be ten under is very good, but I wouldn't say I'm overly confident. I just need a good round tomorrow to be in contention come Sunday.”

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
134 Peter Whiteford (Scotland) 66 68.
136 Prom Meesawat (Thailand) 72 64.
137 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (France) 68 69, Chapchai Nirat (Thailand) 70 67, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand) 68 69, Kieran Pratt (Australia) 71 66.

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
139 Marc Warren 72 67 (T16).
141 Scott Jamieson 69 72 (T30)
144 George Murray 70 74, Ross Bain 74 70 (T54).

MISSED THE CUT (144 or better qualified)
145 David Drysdale 72 73, Richie Ramsay 72 73.

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