DRYSDALE TWO OFF THE LEAD AT HALFWAY IN AVANTHA MASTERS

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ASIAN TOUR

Greater Noida: Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat and China’s Liang Wen-chong ensured a strong Asian presence atop the leaderboard when they carded matching six-under-par 66s to share pole position at the €1.8 million (approximately US$2.3 million) Avantha Masters today.

Current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Chawalit Plaphol of Thailand also keep the Thai flag flying high when he signed for a 68 to share third place alongside Scotland’s David Drysdale, England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Finland’s Joonas Granberg.

The quartet stayed two shots back of the duo who had compiled a two-day total of 12-under-par 132 to lead at the Jaypee Greens Golf Course.

Although Thailand’s Chinnarat Phadungsil could not match his first round heroics where he opened with an astonishing 61, the three-time Asian Tour winner still managed to stay close to the leaders by taking a share of seventh place on 135 total with six other players that include India’s Rahil Gangjee, Australia’s Scott Hend and Brazil’s Adilson Da Silva from the Asian Tour.

Chapchai was delighted that his booming drives played a key role in putting him into contention as the Jaypee Greens Golf Course’s 7,347 yards, par-72 layout is considered the longest course in India.

“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 at the Avantha Master which is tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).

“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.

Liang, who was the first mainland Chinese to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2007, marked his card with eight birdies against two bogeys and was in commanding form, especially in his short game.

“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 to my position today,” said Liang.

The cut was set at three-under-par 141 with 74 players making it into the weekend rounds.
Marc Warren (69 for 140) and Craig Lee (71 for 141) made it with not much to spare but Colin Montgomerie (76 for 152) missed it by miles.

 

SECOND ROUND TOTALS

Par 144 (2x72) Yardage 7,347

132 Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 66-66, LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 66-66.

134 Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA) 66-68, David DRYSDALE (SCO) 67-67, Tommy FLEETWOOD (ENG) 69-65, Joonas GRANBERG (FIN) 67-67.

135 Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA) 61-74, Rahil GANGJEE (IND) 69-66, Scott HEND (AUS) 67-68, Abhijit CHADHA (IND) 66-69, Jaakko MAKITALO (FIN) 67-68, Julien QUESNE (FRA) 69-66, Adilson DA SILVA (BRA) 70-65.

136 Thomas AIKEN (RSA) 67-69, Rikard KARLBERG (SWE) 67-69, Maximilian KIEFFER (GER) 68-68, BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR) 68-68, Pablo LARRAZABAL (ESP) 68-68, Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 68-68.

137 Mark FOSTER (ENG) 70-67, Brett RUMFORD (AUS) 68-69, Jeev Milkha SINGH (IND) 69-68, Victor DUBUISSON (FRA) 69-68, Peter WHITEFORD (SCO) 68-69, Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 68-69, Anirban LAHIRI (IND) 68-69.

SELECTED SCORES
140 Marc Warren (Sco) 71 69 (T39)
141 Craig Lee (Sco) 70 71 (T56)
+Players with aggregates of 141 and better qualified for the final 36 holes.

MISSED THE CUT
152 Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 76 76 (T150)   

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE