Amardip Malik leads Noida Masters

Report by Anand Datla

December 10, 2014: Fortunes change quickly in sport and it makes for a fascinating spectacle. After a breathtaking effort to gain a four shot lead on the first day, Mukesh Kumar found an obstinate wall in the second round. The overnight leader stumbled to a 73 as he slipped into second, two behind an impressive Amardip Malik. The local lad was unstoppable in the second round as he shot his way up the ladder with a 67 to gain a comfortable two shot lead at the halfway stage.

Malik shot seven birdies in to add to his 70 in the opening round and leap over a struggling Mukesh to snatch the lead. Malik took three shots from the course to turn around in 34 shots. He was one better on the way back, closing out with a 33 containing three birdies.

Mukesh suffered for much of the round, after starting with a birdie at the first hole. He made five bogeys over the course nine holes from the fourth to melt away into the masses. Fortunately for him, an eagle three at the 14th and another birdie at the 16th allowed him to sign off on a 73 and second place at the midway mark.

With low scores proving elusive for a second straight day, the cut fell at 7-over allowing 52 golfers to chase for glory over the weekend. There were a dozen men with scores under par after the first round, only nine remained in red after the second.

Consistency was mantra for Chikkarangappa, who finished his card on 71 for a second straight day. He was lying T5 at 2-under through 36 holes with Shamim Khan and Om Prakash Chouhan for company.

Rashid Khan’s struggle with the Noida Golf Course continued unabated. Starting on the tenth hole, Rashid gave one straight to the course when he made bogey at the eleventh. A double bogey at the fifth and a bogey at the seventh also tarred his card, but three birdies allowed him to close on 73, in T27 at 3-over.