By IANS
Greater Noida : Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing took over the halfway lead Friday with six birdies in a row as he carded a brilliant six-under-par 66 to steal a four stroke lead with a total of 10-under-par 134 at the Rs.8 million BILT Open 2007 at the par-72 Jaypee Greens Golf Course.
First round leader Shamim Khan carded a level-par, 72, and dropped to second place with a total of six-under-par 138 for the tournament.
Lam Chih Bing started the day with five pars followed by a bogey on the par-four sixth hole where he hit his drive into the rough. However, he recovered with a birdie on the seventh to make the turn at level-par for the front nine. He then made back-to-back birdies from the 11th to the 16th holes to card a 66, taking his 36-hole total to 10-under-par 134.
“I struggled on the front nine, specially with my putting but I started holing them on the back nine, so that helped,” said Lam Chih Bing, who has been saying that he would like to win the title this year as he finished runners-up last time.
“My putting was average today — it was not good but not too bad. However, the 18th hole spoilt my day,” said Shamim, who made three birdies and one bogey and a double bogey on the par-four 18th hole.
Gaganjeet Bhullar, Ashok Kumar, Arjun Singh and Gaurav Pratap Singh were a further stroke behind, tied for third place with an identical total of five-under-par, 139.
Gaganjeet carded a five-under-par 67, while Ashok shot a 68. Arjun Singh played consistently to bring home a two-under-par 70 in the second round and Gaurav shot a level-par 72.
Seasoned professional Mukesh Kumar, Digvijay Singh and Himmmat Singh Rai were another stroke behind, tied at four-under-par 140 at the end of two days’ play. Anirban Lahiri, Richard Backwell, Matloob Ahmed Rana, S.S.P. Chowrasia and Amardip Sinh Malik were tied for tenth place at three-under-par 141.
The top-50 scores and ties made the cut, which was applied at three-over-par 147.
Kapil Kumar leads the amateur category with a 36-hole total of 154, while Lakhan Singh is placed second.
Scores (After 36-Holes): 134_Lam Chih Bing (68,66); 138_Shamim Khan (66,72); 139 Gaganjeet Bhullar (72,67), Ashok Kumar (71,68), Arjun Singh (69,70), Gaurav Pratap Singh (67,72); 140 Mukesh Kumar (72, 68), Digvijay Singh (69,71), Himmat Singh Rai (74,66); 141 Anirban Lahiri (70,71), Richard Backwell (72,69), Matloob Ahmed Rana (72,69), SSP Chowrasia (69,72), Amardip Sinh Malik (72,69); 142_Feroz Ali Mollah (70,72), Harendra Gupta (73,69), Craig McLean (70,72), Mandeo Singh Pathania (69,73), Vijay Kumar (74,68), Amandeep Johl (74,68).