Chawrasia misses cut in Johannesburg

SSP Chawrasia fails to make the cut at the Joburg Open

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SSP Chawrasia fails to make the cut at the Joburg Open

 

Report by Anand Datla

 

February 27, 2015: SSP Chawrasia suffered the cut at the Joburg Open despite an improved performance in the second round of the European Tour event in the South African capital. The Indian Open runner-up was a recipient of a tournament invite to the Open Qualifying tournament, where three golfers from the top ten have a chance to play the Open this season. The golfer from Kolkata was dealt a blow to his hopes when he could only make 77 in the first round. He made a significantly improved performance in the second but a 71 wasn’t enough to save him from the axe.

 

Chawrasia seemed far more comfortable on the West Course where he was playing his second round, compared to his outing on the East Course on Thursday. The Indian golfer traversed the front nine with no damage, making the turn in 35 shots including birdies at the 4th and 6th holes.

 

He added one more birdie at the 11th hole, but any hopes of a great recovery were laid to rest when Chawrasia surrendered shots at the 13th and 15th holes. With low scores the order of the day, the cut fell at 3-under or worse, leaving Chawrasia with no chance of spending the weekend in Johannesburg.

 

If the 169th ranked golfer was expecting to heal some of the wounds he suffered at the Indian Open, no medicine was on offer this week on the African continent. Two double bogeys and three other bogeys in the first round meant that Chawrasia was up against it with barely a chance of making the weekend.

 

South Africa’s Wallie Coetsee moved into a one shot lead as the home contingent look to continue their remarkable record at the Joburg Open. The 42 year old Coetsee, who ended a 17-year title drought on the co-sanctioning Sunshine Tour with a win in Zambia last year, added a six under par 65 on Royal Johannesburg & Kensington’s West Course to his opening 66 on the East Course for a 12 under halfway total.

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