September 25, 2015: There was to be no joy for Shiv Kapur (68-72) and Jeev Milkha Singh (71-70), who both missed out on the weekend at the European Open in Germany. The two Indians battled valiantly, but Kapur’s one over 72 was just below the cut line and Singh’s 70 left him a further shot back below the cut line. England’s Ross Fisher moved into contention to regain the Porsche European Open title he won seven years ago, firing a six under par second round of 65 to share the halfway lead in Germany with compatriot Graeme Storm and former Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel. (Latest Golf News)
Kapur tried his best to get the better of the course, exemplified by the fact that he made par at fifteen holes in the second round. Bogeys at the 2nd and 12th were only marginally offset by a lone birdie that came at the ninth hole. He fell painfully short, as he needed just another shot to make it through to the weekend.
Singh on the other hand enjoyed a far more colourful round – his card marked by six birdies, three bogeys and a fatal double bogey at the par-3 second hole.
Fisher claimed the prestigious title in 2008 at the London Golf Club in the event’s penultimate staging before it dropped off The Race to Dubai for six years. Despite the tournament moving to a new venue in Golf Resort Bad Griesbach, Fisher still has ‘good vibes’ associated with the event, and he posted seven birdies to surge up the leaderboard.
The former Ryder Cup player moved to ten under par for the tournament, the same total as South African Schwartzel, who signed for a bogey-free round of 66, and Storm, who chipped in for an eagle three on the tenth hole en route to a 67.
BMW PGA Champion Byeong Hun An also eagled the tenth in his round of 65 and he is one shot behind the leading trio on nine under par, along with Englishman Richard McEvoy, who bogeyed the last hole in fading light to drop out of a share of the lead, posting a round of 67.
A year on from his Ryder Cup heroics, Jamie Donaldson looks to be regaining his form, the Welshman carding a round of 68 to sit three shots back on seven under par, in a share of seventh place.
And on home soil there was a special moment for German Max Kieffer, who made his 22nd consecutive cut on The European Tour with two rounds of 68, meaning he now has the longest active streak of cuts made.
“I’m delighted. I played some very good golf out there. My form has been good and I’ve hitting the ball nicely. Results just haven’t shown that. Missing the cut in Holland, I didn’t actually play that badly. I felt fresh coming into this week after a week off and felt pretty comfortable out there in the pro-am,” said Fisher.
“It is a course that suits, me, I can be aggressive off the tee with the driver and the greens are so pure. I’ve got good vibes with it being the European Open, having won the tournament. I’m delighted it is back on the schedule and I’m delighted to put myself in position after two days,” added the confident Brit.
Top scores through 36 holes:
132 R Fisher (Eng) 67 65, C Schwartzel (RSA) 66 66, G Storm (Eng) 65 67,
133 B An (Kor) 68 65, R McEvoy (Eng) 66 67,
134 J Edfors (Swe) 66 68, D Fichardt (RSA) 65 69,
Missed Cut
140 S Kapur (Ind) 68 72
141 J Singh (Ind) 71 70
