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Kapur just two off PGA lead at halfway

Indian stalwart Shiv Kapur remained steady in the second round at the BMW PGA Championship when he fired a one-under-par 71 for joint fifth position on Friday.

After a solid 67 in the opening round, Kapur, the Asian Tour’s Rookie of the Year in 2005, produced a two-day total of six-under-par 138 at Wentworth Club. He was two strokes behind the leading duo of Angel Cabrera of Argentina who improved with a 66 and England’s Justin Rose who carded a 70.

Kapur, who made his maiden appearance at the British Open last year, kept within striking distance of the leaders when he shot five birdies against two bogeys and a double bogey.

South African James Kingston was in tied 16th place after a 71 while Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee rose to joint 27th position when he fired a 70 for a 143 total. India’s Jyoti Randhawa slipped down the ranks as he was tied with Thongchai after a slow 75.

Compatriot Jeev Milkha Singh, last year’s Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit winner, fired a 69 and narrowly made the cut in joint 60th position alongside Korea’s Yang Yong-eun who struck a 78 for a 146 total.

Englishman Simon Dyson was even-par for the day but missed the mark together with China’s Liang Wen-chong who shot a 77. Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat, the TCL Classic winner, carded a 71 in the first round but his 77 on the second day saw him miss the cut after a 148 total and a stroke behind was South African Anton Haig who was even-par for the day. The other Asian Tour players who missed the weekend cut was Singapore’s Mardan Mamat who shot a 73 and Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand who carded a 75.

In Japan, Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand was in tied third place when he was even-par for the day in the second round at the Mitsubishi Diamond Cup Golf. With a two-day total of 143, Prayad trails leader Toru Taniguchi, who shot a 69, by two strokes.

Choi Joon-woo shot a 72 and was in joint seventh place with a similar score by Prom Meesawat who was in tied 15th spot after a 147 total. Two strokes back was Filipino legend Frankie Minoza who carded a 73 while Chinese Taipei Yeh Wei-tze shot a 76 to lie in tied 40th position. Chawalit Plaphol endured a slow 77 in tied 51st place.

On the US PGA Tour, Kevin Na carded a 69 in tied sixth place before play was suspended due to darkness in the second round at the Crowne Plaza Invitational. In joint 39th position was Choi Kyung-ju who shot a 70.

India’s Arjun Atwal improved with a 69 as he stood in tied 37th spot at the Melwood Prince George’s Country Open. Edward Loar struck a 73 in joint 55th position while Jarrod Lyle missed the cut after carding a similar score.

South African Jaco Van Zyl leads the way after a 65 for a 135 total.

May 26, 2007