By IANS,
Versailles (France) : A sensational streak of nine birdies over the last 14 holes not only saw Shiv Kapur avoid the danger of missing the cut but also pitched him in contention at the midway stage of the Open de France Alstom.
Kapur, who opened the day with a bogey brought in a card of eight-under 63 and rocketed from 103rd to tied eighth at Le Golf National Club.
Kapur, however, missed out by one shot on a 23-year-old course record of 62 set by Seve Ballesteros in 1985. Kapur, who had a four-over 75 in the first round was five-over after the bogey on the very first hole on second. Thereafter he moved into a different gear and suddenly by the end of the day, he was just three away from the lead held by David Lynn (65) with Pablo Larrazabal (70) at seven-under 135.
Two other Indians made the cut as Jeev Milkha Singh, who had just one birdie the whole day and four bogeys, shot 74 which saw him placed at 28th, down from first round’s fifth place.
Jyoti Randhawa also made the weekend rounds despite a triple bogey on the par-4 13th. He shot a three-over 74 with two birdies, two bogeys and a triple to be two-over 144 for two days. However S.S.P. Chowrasia missed the cut with a roller-coaster second round 79 that had two birdies, three bogeys, two double bogeys and one triple bogey.
“That’s golf for you,” said a joyous Kapur, who has been playing well but struggling with his scoring. “I know I have been hitting the ball well, but the scores have not been coming my way.”
“I have to change my mindset for the weekend now, I thought I was going home after going five over today. That’s when all I wanted to see was if I could make a few birdies. After a few pars the putts began to fall from the 14th, as I had three birdies in four holes. At the turn I was in with the chance to make the cut and stay on for the weekend.
“I told my caddie that let’s try and see if we can make it comfortable (making cut) and a little after that I was trying to move higher and suddenly you are up there,” Kapur said.
The Le National Golf Club is by reputation a tough course it was no cakewalk Friday with the wind and tough pin positions.
Angel Cabrera (67), Colin Montgomerie (68) and Lee Westwood (68) all moved into contention to set-up a brilliant weekend golf. There was a five-way tie for third with Iganico Garrido (69) and Peter Lawrie (71) also in the bunch at five-under 137.
Kapur was tied eighth with Paul Broadhurst ((69), Graeme Storm (70) and Soren Hansen (69) at four-under 138.
Kapur produced a stunner to pick up ten shots in 14 holes. After his bogey on 10th, birdied the 14th, 16th and 17th to turn in two-under. He parred the first and then had five birdies in a row from second to sixth and again birdied the ninth to close at 63.
Kapur made only seven of the 14 fairways but scrambled well to save pars when needed and also needed just 24 putts during his round.