Local hero Chawrasia clubhouse leader


 at Indian Open, Stephen Gallacher T9




EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Defending champion S S P Chawrasia is the man to catch again as he set the clubhouse target on a weather-delayed second day of the Hero Indian Open.

The home favourite has a remarkable record at his national Open that has seen him add four runners-up finishes to last year's victory, with all three of his European Tour wins having come in India.

One of those wins - the 2011 Avantha Masters - came here at DLF Golf and Country Club but that was over a different course to this week's Gary Player designed lay-out.

The new course has proved a mighty test for the field but Chawrasia carded a bogey-free 67 in his second round to get to five under, a shot clear of playing partner David Horsey.

"First day I was level par as I was a little bit scared as it's a new course and it's very tricky," he said. "Overall I played good today.

"I feel really good, and made a few putts. That's why I shot five under. Yesterday I played good but missed a few putts. I did miss a few but I made a few too, so they equal out.

"Last year I won, so I have lots of positivity. And now I'm leading so obviously I'm confident and I'm trying to win this tournament again. Hopefully I'll play good the next two days."

Chawrasia and Horsey may have completed their rounds but with 2hrs 31mins lost due to the threat of lightning, 66 players will have to complete round two on Saturday morning, among them third-placed Matteo Manassero and Eddie Pepperell, who were three under.

Chawrasia was six shots behind Horsey at the start of the second round but the 38 year old put on a putting masterclass.
He birdied the 11th while Horsey made a gain on the 12th but gave the shot straight back on the next before the Indian drained a stunning 50-footer on the 14th.
Both men then birdied the 15th with Horsey dropping a shot on the 18th after finding the hazard and taking a drop.

The Englishman put his approach on the fourth to four feet but there was drama to come on the par three fifth when Horsey made a double-bogey after taking three off the tee and Chawrasia holed another long putt for a birdie and a three-shot swing.

A four-putt from Horsey on the eighth dropped him to four under and when Chawrasia made another long putt for birdie, he held the lead.

"I played quite nicely," said Horsey. "A little bit disappointed with the finish, I left a few putts out there on the back nine. But still, I'm only one behind just now, that's not a bad position going into the weekend.

"I need to keep playing like I have been and just putt a bit better. It will be interesting to see how far behind I am come the end of round two."
Italian Manassero bogeyed the second and fourth but made a birdie on the sixth in his seven holes, while Englishman Pepperell will face 16 holes of his second round on Saturday after a bogey-birdie start from the tenth.

Spaniard Carlos Pigem and Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey were at two-under 142 after rounds of 73 and 71 respectively, alongside Englishman Sam Walker and Malaysia's Danny Chia, who were level par for their rounds on the front nine.

Scot Stephen Gallacher was in the clubhouse in T9 position, a further shot back after a 73 for 143. Counting only completed scores, Gallacher is in fifth place.

Compatriot Scott Jamieson had a 74 for 144 and T13th place. Again, counting only completed 36 hole tallies, Jamieson is T6


SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
par 144 (2x72)

139 - S.S.P. CHAWRASIA (IND) 72-67.

140 - David HORSEY (ENG) 66-74.

142 - Carlos PIGEM (ESP) 69-73, Michael HOEY (NIR) 71-71.

143 - Stephen GALLACHER (SCO) 70-73.

144 - Daniel BROOKS (ENG) 73-71, Romain LANGASQUE (FRA) 69-75, Gregory HAVRET (FRA) 70-74, Scott JAMIESON (SCO) 70-74, Dylan FRITTELLI (RSA) 72-72.

145 - Miguel TABUENA (PHI) 73-72, Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 75-70.

146 - Marcel SIEM (GER) 70-76, Daniel IM (USA) 74-72.

147 - Jens FAHRBRING (SWE) 73-74, Nino BERTASIO (ITA) 67-80, Peter UIHLEIN (USA) 72-75, Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 73-74, Edoardo MOLINARI (ITA) 75-72, Lasse JENSEN (DEN) 70-77.

(Note: A total of 66 players will resume their second rounds at 7am, Saturday)

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