Bhullar shoots 67, survives cut

India's Gaganjeet Bhullar is back to his fiery self to shoot four under 67 in the second round to play through weekend at Joburg Open in Johannesburg.

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February 7, 2014: India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar is back to his fiery self to shoot four under 67 in the second round to play through weekend at Joburg Open in Johannesburg.

 

India’s sole participant at the Euro 1.3 million European Tour event is tied 35th with two round score of five-under 138, six shot behind the leaders Edoardo Molinari and Craig Lee.

 

Bhullar carded six birdies to make up for his opening day performance and also to reserve a place for himself through weekend play.

 

Edoardo Molinari of Italy continued his return to form by claiming a share of the halfway lead at the Joburg Open. Overnight joint leader Scot Craig Lee has retained his lead position by firing 67 to lie at the top with eleven-under 132.

 

The 32 year old Molinari has been plagued by injury problems since making his Ryder Cup debut alongside brother Francesco in 2010, slipping from the Official World Golf Ranking’s top 20 to World Number 220 as a result.

 

However, having finished inside the top ten in Dubai last week, the former US Amateur Champion is impressive again in South Africa as a second round 68 left him tied at the top of the leaderboard with Scotland’s Craig Lee on 11 under par.

 

“It was another very good round of golf, and I hit the ball very well,” said Molinari, who carded four birdies over the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington West Course following a 64 on the easier East lay-out yesterday; the field have played both courses over the first two days and will now revert to the East Course for the weekend.

 

“I’m very happy with pretty much everything. I am very happy with my position and my game right now.”

 

Lee made 67 on the West Course, after a splendid opening with a 65 on the East set-up on day one, as he chases a maiden European Tour title.

 

“The goal was to not fall back and there’s a strong field behind you, so it was important that I didn’t slip back,” said Lee, who had missed the cut on his last five visits to South Africa. “I had a pretty good chance early on to distance myself from the rest of the field, but I didn’t really capitalise on the back nine.”

 

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