The two Indians, Arjun Atwal and Anirban Lahiri, playing together in the the same group enjoyed an early start on Friday. Playing off the tenth tee, Atwal got off with a birdie on the 11th and never quite looked back. After a 73 in the opening round, he needed a good round to secure his weekend. He may have done just enough, firing five birdies for his 3-under 141. Lahiri made birdies at 12 and 16, but he also had to contend with four bogeys in settling for an even 72.
Overnight co-leader Hudson Swafford took charge with a 67 in the second round, moving to 12-under through 36 holes. Sean O’Hair was lying in second at 10-under after posting a second straight 67. Sepp Straka, one of four men holding the first round lead was scheduled to start his round later in the afternoon.
Arjun was lying in the fringe on the par-4 13th hole, taking his only bogey of the day. He made amends on the 16th hole, another par-4, as he went under-par again. He added birdies at the first, seventh and ninth holes as he kept his sheet clean for fourteen holes and came home to a four-under score in the second round. He jumped 61 spots from 105th to T44.
Anirban looked set for another good round as he made the turn in 35 strokes. He posted birdies at the 12th and 16th holes. But a bogey on the 18th tempered his returns just as he went past the outward stretch. But he turned the tide in his favour with two quick birdies – at the first and third holes. Unfortunately though, Anirban suffered three bogeys on the home stretch dropping back to even par with the last of those losses.
Akshay Bhatia, like Straka was on the schedule in the afternoon. He is also at 3-under with a 69 in the opening round.
Tyler McCumber and Scott Harrington failed to take advantage of their great start on Thursday. The two held a share of the lead at the start of the second round, but scores of 71 and 74 respectively dropped them down the order. At 8-under, McCumber was in T3 while Harrington dropped to T18.
