By IANS
Noida : Jyoti Randhawa added a steady four-under 68 to his first round 67 to go into early lead in the second round of the $ 400,000 SAIL Open, being presented by Jaypee Greens on the outskirts of the national capital here Thursday.
Calling his round ‘average’, Randhawa shot an even par on front nine with one birdie and one bogey but then rammed four birdies on the back nine for a 68.
“It was a cold start in the morning. There was frost in the morning and I got warmed really on the back nine,” said Randhawa, who last week finished seventh in Astro Enjoy Indonesia Open with a final round card of eight-under 62.
Joining him in the lead was Australian Tony Carolan (69) who had four birdies against one bogey.
“It wasn’t a great day. I battled from the 18th onwards, but still it is nice to be on the top,” said Carolan. “I was happy with my driving, but had a lot of problems with my seven-iron.”
Other early finishers included Scott Hend, playing alongside Randhawa. Hend shot six birdies but also dropped four bogeys in his 70, which left him at seven-under 137.
Filipino Angelo Que (70), Korea’s Noh Seugn-yul (70) and Danny Chia (70) were at six-under 138, with young Thai Panuwat Muenlek who shot a fine 67 with six birdies and one bogey.
Ted Oh of Korea shot the best round with a six-under 66 that saw him make a good move up. After a one-over 73 in the first round, he is now five-under 139 for 36 holes.
Randhawa had just one birdie and one bogey on the front nine, but on the back nine, he drove very well and followed that up with great hitting.
“It was a mix of a few bad shots and good shots, but I got away with the bad shots. The course is really very open and you can get away,” said Randhawa.
“As for the overall day, it was very average, but the score was quite good at 68. There are times when you play well and still come back with a 70. This time I played just average but the score was fine.”
On the SAIL Open, which makes it debut on the Asian Tour, Randhawa said: “It is always good to support a tournament at home. We have been having good results and this event can further help Indian golf.”
Speaking on his schedule, which is rather heavy for the first half, he said: “I am playing nine weeks in a row. From here it is Johnnie Walker Classic and then Malaysia and Korea. But after that I am taking a month off and then I will go to Europe.
“Normally I don’t play so much, but the schedule has worked out like this, so I am doing it.”
Harinder Gupta of India finished with a two-under 70 that now gives him a total of five-under 139. At one stage after 13 holes he was four-under for the day, but dropped late bogeys on 14th and 16th. He had three birdies between the 10th and 13th.