CRANS MONTANA (SWITZERLAND), July 24: Anirban Lahiri and SSP Chawrasia carded excellent second round scores to ensure a strong position for the weekend at the Omega European Masters here today.
Lahiri carded a second straight 67 and Chawrasia added a 66 to his first 70 at the majestic par-70 Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in amidst the Swiss Alps.
Jyoti Randhawa was two-under 138 after rounds of 68 and 70, while Jeev Milkha Singh put himself out of the weekend with 72-72 as did Digvijay Singh (76-71).
Three Indians still with a chance of making the cut are Rashid Khan (67 in first round and two-over through five in second round), Shiv Kapur (68 and two-over through four in second round), Rahil Gangjee (68 and three-over through 10 holes).
Lahiri played out two rounds of three-under 67 each to get to six-under 134 and position himself well into top-10 with some players still on the course. Admitting he was still tired from the long week at the Open Championships, Lahiri had five birdies and two bogeys one each of the two days. Yesterday, he was a later starter and today he started from the tenth.
The current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, Lahiri, said, “The body is still feeling a little tired as it was a really long week in St Andrews. But I’m feeling fine. I’ve been lucky with the draw as I played late yesterday and managed to sleep in a little with the fog delay.”
Lahiri, who has won seven times, including twice this season at Malaysian Open and Hero Indian Open started on the back-stretch of 10 hole and ran out in 32 by trading four birdies and a bogey.
He stumbled briefly with another bogey at the par-four first but drained a 10-foot putt for birdie on seven to seal his place in the weekend rounds.
“I feel like I’m playing a lot better than I’ve scored. It’s always hard reading these greens as I missed a few six to eight footers but it’s still a good sign for me. I’m beginning to play more solid and I’m still in position. Hopefully it’ll be a big weekend and I can contend,” said Lahiri.
S S P Chawrasia, also a two-time winner on European Tour and three Asian Tour titles, made a strong comeback with a four-under 66 in the second round after an opening round 70.
Chawrasia had five birdies and just one bogey for a 66 while Jyoti Randhawa signed for a 70 to finish with a two day total of two-under-par 138.
“My putter worked well and I was feeling good with other parts of the game,” said Chawrasia, who is also targeting his European Tour card for 2016. (PTI)
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