Chowrasia T5 at Hong Kong Open

Report by Anand Datla

October 17, 2014: After a stirring performance by Jyoti Randhawa in the first round, it was the turn of SSP Chowrasia to produce a stellar round of 65 to jump into T5 at the end of the second round of the Hong Kong Open. Overnight leader Randhawa though gave away four shots in his opening nine holes before eventually recovering to post an even par 70 to join a ten strong group in T5. Ernie Els produced rare consistency to follow up a 66 in the first round with a 65 on Friday to earn a two shot lead over Raphael Jacquelin. Els is 9-under 131 at the halfway stage. The sword fell at even par and a bunch of faltering Indians fell through the sieve. Chiragh Kumar (71-71), Anirban Lahiri (75-68), Jeev Milkha Singh (73-71), Himmat Rai (74-70), Rashid Khan (73-72) and Sujjan Singh (75-72) will have no role to play over the weekend.

Chowrasia got off to a healthy start, making three birdies off his first four holes, after starting at the 10th hole. He suffered a lone setback on the day, a bogey at the 15th as he went on to turn in 34 shots. He went through the return stretch in just 31 shots to post 65, the low round of the day along with Els and Cameron Smith. He is at 6-under 134, gaining a whopping 39 spots on the leaderboard.

Randhawa held a one shot lead at the end of the first round. He too started on the 10th and quickly slipped – making a bogey at the 12th, a double at the 14th and adding another at the 18th. But chastened perhaps from a 38 for his nine holes, Randhawa played far better on his return swing. He made two birdies as he reached the clubhouse in 32 and restore his card to even par for the round.

Shiv Kapur and Rahil Gangjee are both in T25. One has been holding a mirror to the other this week – producing similar scores of 68 and 68 in the first two rounds to get through the midway mark at 4-under 136.

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