Randhawa in lead in DLF Masters golf

India Sports
Randhawa in lead in DLF Masters golf
By IANS, May 11, 2007 - 8:11:33 PM

Gurgaon, May 11 - Jyoti Randhawa carded a brilliant eight-under-par, 64 with a total of 12-under-par, 132 to take the lead at the halfway stage of the Rs.6.5 million DLF Masters at the DLF Golf and Country Club here Friday.

Teeing off the 10th, Randhawa started the day with a bogey after he thinned his lob-wedge second shot and three-putted from 25 feet. However, he made no mistakes thereafter. He birdied the 11th, 12th, 17th and 18th holes to make the turn at three-under-par, 33. Birdies on the first, third, fifth, sixth and seventh holes resulted in a five-under-par on his back nine, resulting in an eight-under-par, 64.

He narrowly missed tying the course record - a 63 which is currently held by Argentina's Rodrigo Cuello - after he missed a chip and putt for birdie from off the green on the par-five ninth, his last hole for the day.

'I hit the ball much better today and got a feel for the greens and fairways. However, I did feel bad for the mistakes I made today as I missed a two-footer on the 10th hole and a few more small putts,' said Randhawa.

Gaurav Diwan who carded a four-under-par, 68 following a 69 in the first 18-holes is in the second place with his total of seven-under-par, 137. Teeing off the 10th, he picked up birdies on the 10th, 15th and 18th holes to make the turn at three-under-par.

He dropped his only stroke of the day on the par-four second hole, but birdied the fourth, dropped another shot on the fifth, but an eagle on the par-five sixth hole resulted in a four-under-par, 68 taking his 36-hole total to seven-under-par, 137.

Australia's Richard Backwell who carded a two-under-par, 70 is third at six-under-par, 136. He eagled the 18th hole for the second day in a row after he hit a drive into the centre of the fairway and hit his five iron to just six feet from the pin.

'I am happy with the way I am playing and really enjoyed making eagle on the 18th hole over two consecutive days,' said the Australian.

S.S.P. Chowrasia, Vijay Kumar and Ranjit Singh are tied for the fourth place at four-under-par, 140. Chowrasia carded a three-under-par, 69 after a one-under-par, 70 in the first round.

'I played much better today and am looking forward to a good weekend,' said the ever-smiling Chowrasia.

Ranjit Singh who grabbed the overnight lead with a six-under-par, 66 in the first round, did not have a very satisfactory round and carded a two-over-par, 74.

SCORES -: 132 Jyoti Randhawa -; 137 Gaurav Diwan -; 138 Richard Backwell -; 140 S.S.P. Chowrasia -, Vijay Kumar -, Ranjit Singh -; 141 Mukesh Kumar -, Himmat Rai -, Digvijay Singh -, Gaurav Ghei -; 143 Shiv Kapur -, R. Srinivas -; 144 Ali Sher -, Chiragh Kumar -, Gagnjeet Bhullar -

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