August 10, 2018: SSP Chawrasia is cool as a cucumber, understated and composed even in the most difficult circumstances. The wily golfer seems to have finally rediscovered his mojo after a patchy season filled with missed cuts.
He is not only back, Chawrasia is back with a bang. The 40-year-old has gone bogey-free since making a pair of those at the 6th and 7th yesterday.
Chawrasia recovered to a 69 in the first round, riding four birdies on the return stretch. He continued from where he left off, burning the KGA course with three birdies on either side for a brilliant 65.
“It was another good round,” said Chawrasia. “I was bogey-free today. I am feeling confident and looking ahead to the weekend.
“I made a few long putts too. The twelfth, we made a twenty footer from just off the green. At the sixteenth, it was a fifty footer,” gushed Chawrasia, “even as an indulgent cohort of media professionals exclaimed in awe.”
Is that fifty, a “5” “0,” he was probed? “Yes, it was a 50, fifty” chuckled a clearly delighted Chawrasia. The two time Hero Indian Open champion’s effort this week is doubly sweet, considering that his mind is also constantly in Kolkata. Chawrasia’s mother is receiving intensive care after high levels of diabetes complicated her health.
“She is recovering,” said a relieved Chawrasia. “So that is good news. We are hopeful that she can be back home soon.”
After touching a high of 151, Chawrasia has slipped to 413th in the world. But if he continues to play the way he has this week, a ride up the order isn’t too far away. Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, Chawrasia is lying two strokes behind the leader Miguel Carballo.
Danthai Boonma stepped into that void, firing four straight birdies to begin his second round. The Thai is at nine under after playing just four holes on Friday.
The Argentine made an eagle on the par-5 11th hole to set off on another day of good golf. He would need just 28 putts, making four birdies along the way. The only blemish on his card came at the 432yard sixth hole, but he regained it with a birdie at the par-3 eighth hole to bring home a two-shot advantage over the field.
The top ten at the halfway stage also included several other Indians. The final tally could change, with the afternoon groups still out on the course.
Khalin Joshi and Honey Baisoya are in the clubhouse at six under after posting scores of 69 and 66 respectively.
Feroz Singh Garewal, Kapil Kumar and Sunit Chowrasia (SSP’s nephew) are all on the course at five under during various stages of their incomplete second round.
PGTI Tour regular Anura Rohana is at six under in T4 after adding a 69 to his first round 67.
