Anirban Lahiri climbs to T38 – Crans

Report by Anand Datla

September 5, 2014: India’s Anirban Lahiri made 67 at the Swiss resort town of Crans Montana to gain 35 spots on a churning leaderboard. Jyothi Randhawa made a brilliant 65 to surge right alongside Lahiri in T38. Rahil Gangjee made a 67 to help himself just above the cut line, but five other Indian men seemed set to miss the cut. Rashid Khan retired from the event after playing six holes in the second round, four of which ended in bogeys. Richie Ramsay held on to a one shot lead after making a fine 66 in the second round of the Omega European Masters. Jamie Donladson inched to within a shot of Ramsay with a brilliant 64 on Friday.

Lahiri was far better than Thursday, needing just 34 shots to race through the front nine, compared to the 38 he needed on Thursday. After making three birdies and a bogey on the front, Lahiri settled for a far more sedate march to the clubhouse. Just a solitary birdie buttressed between eight other even par efforts helped him go three better than the first round.

Randhawa, lying 73rd after a 72 in the first round produced a gem on Friday to climb up the leaderboard. In a spotless effort, Randhawa made two birdies on his outward march, which began on the 10th hole. The Indian made three more birdies on his way to the clubhouse for a terrific 65 that helped him to three under through two rounds.

Gangjee exchanged a birdie with a bogey to start his round, but finished the front nine with a birdie before adding two more on the way back to settle for a 67 that catapulted him 47 spots, perhaps enough to save him the wrath of the midway sword. But Shiv Kapur (74-67), Gaganjeet Bhullar (73-71), Digvijay Singh (71-73), Jeev Milkha Singh (72-73) and  SSP Chowrasia (75-72) will all miss the cut.

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