By IANS,
Shenzhen (China) : India’s Abhijit Chadha will take a one shot lead into the final day of the fifth Faldo Series Asia Grand Final golf after firing a second round 69 on the Faldo Course at Mission Hills.
Chadha from Chandigarh is at two under par 142 and will be playing alongside compatriot Ashbeer Saini in the third and final round.
Ashbeer Saini, the 17-year-old from Punjab is one shot behind after adding a second round 71 to his first round 72. Both players are hoping to become the second Faldo Series Asia champion from India after two-time winner Rashid Khan who won in 2008 and 2009 and turned professional in 2010.
The 19-year-old Chadha, a member of the Indian team that won a silver at Asian Games in November, got off to the best possible start with three birdies and an eagle in his first seven holes on his way to a three under par 69. Meanwhile, overnight leader Jin Daxing, 18, of China struggled to a 75 after his opening 69 but is only two shots off the lead on level par.
Defending champion Masamichi Ito of Japan lies in fourth place on two over par after a second 73.
The best card of the day was brought by Hong Kong’s Terrence Ng with a score of four-under, followed by Abhijit with a score of three-under
Chadha, who played with a stomach upset, looked like opening a big lead till his double bogey on the 17th. Starting from the 10th he birdied the 10th, 12th, and 16th and eagled the 14th to go five-under for the day and four-under for the tournament. The double on 17th cost him 2 shots but he kept the lead. He leads overall by one shot and in his own category he is five clear.
Ashbeer, who had a par round Wednesday, had a steady round with four birdies and three bogeys and finished one-under today as well as for the tournament to be in the sole second. Position overall and lead the under 16 category by 3 shots.
Trishul also improved considerably over his score of 5 over Wednesday to finish one-over today. Overall he is placed 4th in his group six behind the leader. Ankur had a very forgettable day with a score of 84 and two days cumulative score of 158.
Among girls, Vani also improved considerably over her performance to finish the day with two-over and a cumulative score of 156.
Heading the challenge for the Faldo Series Asia girls’ title is China’s Wu Sha and Liu Yi-Chen of Chinese Taipei, both at five over par 149. Overnight girls’ leader Wu, 13, from Guangdong carded a second round 76 which allowed reigning Faldo Series Europe girls’ champion Liu, 18, to catch her up with a 73.
As many as 79 golfers from 17 different countries are at Mission Hills for the fifth edition of the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final. The largest ever line-up includes representatives from 14 Asian countries, including 21 golfers from mainland China, plus others from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and England.
Leading round two scores:
Boys’ Under-21: 142 – Abhijit Chadha (IND) 73-69; 147 – Huang Tao (TPE) 76-71; 148 – Fahmi Reza (INA) 77-71.
Boys’ Under-18: 144 – Jin Daxing (CHN) 69-75; 147 – Jack Colegate (ENG) 70-77; 149 – Liu Lok Tin (HKG) 76-73.
Boys’ Under-16: 143 – Ashbeer Saini (IND) 72-71; 146 – Masamichi Ito (JPN) 73-73; 148 – Terrence Ng (HKG) 80-68, Jian Chuanlin (CHN) 70-78.
Girls’ Under-21: 149 – Liu Yi-Chen (TPE) 76-73; 152 – Saraporn Chamchoi (THA) 79-73; Mai Arai (JPN) 80-75.
Girls’ Under-16: 149 – Wu Sha (CHN) 73-76; 150 – Wang Chi (TPE) 76-74; 151 – Kitty Tam (HKG) 77-74.