Chikkarangappa leads ATQ final stage

Edited by Anand Datla

Chikkarangappa S of India emerged halfway leader at the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage after he fired eight birdies against two bogeys in his second round of six-under-66. Chikka led the field by two shots as his total stood at 11-under-132. While Australian Paul Spargo stayed two shots back in second place, Sweden’s Daniel Chopra shared third place with Akinori Tani of Japan at eight-under-135.

Chikkarangappa, who was overnight tied fifth, improved on his first round five-under-66 at the Springfield Royal Golf Club with a six-under-66 at the Imperial Lakeview Golf Club in round two. The 21-year-old, who won on the Asian Development Tour last year, is now in line to earn playing rights on the Asian Tour for the first time.

A total of 102 players from the top-100 and ties after the second round successfully progressed to the final two rounds which will be played only at Springfield Royal. Seven Indians made the halfway cut of one-over-144. The top-40 and ties will earn an Asian Tour card for the 2015 season after the final round.

One-time Asian Tour winner Himmat Rai of India edged closer to regaining his Asian Tour card after posting a 67 at the Springfield Royal. He is tied in seventh place with four other players on 137.  Former Indian Open champion C Muniyappa was in tied 12th place at five-under-138 after his second round of 67.

The other four Indians who made the second round cut were Abhijit Singh Chadha (three-under-140) and Angad Cheema (three-under-140), both in tied 22nd place, Khalin Joshi (even-par-143) in tied 66th and Amardip Sinh Malik (one-over-144) in tied 81st place. All four are looking to seal their first ever card on the Asian Tour.

Among the Indians who missed the halfway cut were Abhinav Lohan (145), Samarth Dwivedi (146), Divyanshu Bajaj (148), Shubhankar Sharma (148), Ajeetesh Sandhu (151), Kapil Kumar (151), Karan Taunk (153), Feroz Ali Mollah (154) and Abhishek Jha (155).