2008 SAIL Open - Round 2: Jyoti Randhawa moves into joint halfway lead

Local hero Jyoti Randhawa moved into a familiar pole position with a four-under-par 68 to share the halfway lead with overnight co-leader Tony Carolan at the US$400,000 SAIL Open presented by Jaypee Greens on Thursday.

Randhawa and Carolan, who head the field with a two-day aggregate of nine-under-par 135, were one stroke ahead of 45-year-old veteran Wang Ter Chang of Chinese Taipei, whose brilliant 67 hauled him into contention.

Tied for fourth on 137 were overnight joint-leader Ross Bain of Scotland, who stayed in the hunt with a 71, Fijian Dinesh Chand, who carded a 70, big-hitting Australian Scott Hend (70) and the surprise of the pack, 43-year-old Indian Dinesh Kumar, who fired a 69.

A cosmopolitan group of players from seven different nationalities trailed a further shot back and they include India's Gaganjeet Bhullar (68), Filipino Angelo Que (70), Malaysian Danny Chia (70), Thai Panuwat Muenlek (67), Korean Noh Seung-yul (70), Australian Adam Groom (71) and Kiwi Mark Brown (69).

Randhawa, the 2002 Asian Tour number one, made the turn in even par with one birdie and a bogey before ramming home four birdies on his homeward journey.

Despite his strong finish, Randhawa termed his day at the office as average. “It was kind of average, but the score was quite good at 68. There are times when you play well and still come back with a 70. This time I played just average but the score was fine,” said the seven-time Asian Tour winner.

“It was a cold start in the morning. There was frost and I warmed up early on the back nine,” added Randhawa, who finished tied seventh in the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open with a final round 62 last week.

The talented Indian enjoyed a birdie on par-five fourth from eight feet but bogeyed the next hole. On the 10th, which he had eagled on the first day, Randhawa again went for the green and landed just short. He chipped and putted for birdie and then added further birdies on the 11th, 12th and 15th holes.

Carolan enjoyed four birdies against a lone bogey at the magnificent Jaypee Greens to stay in contention for a maiden Asian Tour victory. “It wasn't a great day. I battled from the 18th onwards, but still it is nice to be on the top,” said Carolan. “I was happy with my driving but had a lot of problems with my irons.”

Ted Oh of Korea shot the best round of the day with a 66 that saw him make a good move up the leaderboard. After a 73 in first round, he now stands at 139 for 36 holes.

Big-hitting Chand, a three-time winner on the Japan Tour, is playing in his first Asian Tour event of the season after coming through Qualifying School in Malaysia. He held the lead briefly with his second eagle of the day on the 12th, but slipped back with two bogeys, one double bogey and a birdie on his remaining holes.

Five birdies against just one bogey helped Hend make up for his error-laden front nine where he had three bogeys against one birdie, as he finished with a 70 to be seven-under for the tournament.

Dubai-based Bain was unable to match his bogey free round from the first round, as he sank two birdies and one bogey for a 71.

Unheralded local player Kumar, whose last professional win came way back in 1991 in India, was delighted to be in contention. “The open course makes for great birdie chances and I am glad I was able to get them,” he said.

The cut came at one-over-par 145 and 74 players made it through to the weekend rounds. Amongst the prominent players who missed the mark included newly crowned Emaar-MGF Indian Masters winner S.S.P Chowrasia of India, who shot a 74, Thailand’s Thammannoon Srirot, who carded a 72, and Gaurav Ghei, who shot a 79.

Leading second round scores (click here for full leaderboard):
135 - Tony Carolan (AUS) 66-69, Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 67-68
136 - Wang Ter-chang (TPE) 69-67
137 - Scott Hend (AUS) 67-70, Dinesh Chand (FIJ) 67-70, Ross Bain (SCO) 66-71, Dinesh Kumar (IND) 68-69
138 - Noh Seung-yul (KOR) 68-70, Angelo Que (PHI) 68-70, Danny Chia (MAS) 68-70, Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 71-67, Adam Groom (AUS) 67-71, Mark Brown (NZL) 69-69, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 70-68
139 - Harinder Gupta (IND) 69-70, Guido Van Der Valk (NLD) 72-67, Taichiro Kiyota (JPN) 70-69, Rhys Davies (WAL) 70-69, Ted Oh (KOR) 73-66, Neven Basic (AUS) 70-69, Peter Cooke (AUS) 67-72, Ashok Kumar (IND) 70-69
140 - Wu Ashun (CHN) 68-72, Kane Webber (AUS) 70-70, Richard Moir (AUS) 72-68, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 71-69, Zhang Lian-wei (CHN) 69-71