By IANS,
Gurgaon : Thailand’s Prom Meesawat made huge ground on the leader with an flawless eight-under-par 64 to stay two shots back of Scott Peter Whiteford after the second round of the Avantha Masters here Friday.
Whiteford, who along with Spain’s Alejandro Canizares was the joint leader of the opening round, cemented his place at the top with a 68. Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat shot an amazing closing eagle-three which gave him a share of the third place alongside compatriot Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
Three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand battled to a 70 to remain in contention with a tied-seventh place together with eight other players that include leading Indians Shamim Khan and Anirban Lahiri.
Prom took advantage of the early morning chill to storm up the leaderboard with eight birdies that included five in his last six holes at the Avantha Masters, which is richest tournament staged in India, thanks to its 1.8 million euros prize fund.
“Everything is going well and it’s good. It was very cold in the first three holes but it got better when the sun came up and that is when I took off my jumper. I like the cold better than the hot and humid weather as I tend to perspire a lot,” said Prom, a one-time winner on the Asian Tour.
Prom, who has failed to win a single title since his last win in Korea in 2006, also credited his regular visits to the gym for making him physically stronger.
“I have been working very hard in the off season by going to the gym. People said that I have lost weight but I don’t think so. I still weight the same and I think I have bulked up a lot because of my muscles. I am getting stronger and more consistent,” said Prom.
A total of 67 players made the cut which was set at even-par.
Two-time Major winner, John Daly withdrew from the Avantha Masters due to an elbow injury while 2004 British Open champion Todd Hamilton of the United States bowed out after a two-day total of 153.
Leading scores after Round Two:
134 – Peter Whiteford (SCO) 66-68.
136 – Prom Meesawat (THA) 72-64.
137 – Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (FRA) 68-69, Chapchai Nirat (THA) 70-67, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 68-69, Kieran Pratt (AUS) 71-66.
138 – Soren Hansen (DEN) 70-68, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 68-70, Jamie Donaldson (WAL) 68-70, Gregory Havret (FRA) 68-70, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 69-69, Marcel Siem (GER) 69-69, Shamim Khan (IND) 70-68, Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 71-67, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 69-69.
Selected scores
144 – Mardan Mamat (SIN) 70-74, Siddikur (BAN) 71-73, Liang Wen-chong (CHN) 72-72.