Shiv Kapur leads into the weekend

India's Shiv Kapur pulled one-stroke clear at the halfway stage of the US$600,000 Volvo Masters of Asia on Friday with title holder Jyoti Randhawa looming ominously.

Kapur, the overnight co-leader, battled to a five-under-par 67 in the second round at the award-winning Thai Country Club and leads the Asian Tour's season finale on 11-under-par 133.

Randhawa, Asia's number one in 2002, shifted into top gear with a blistering 64, his lowest score this season, for second place while Australian Marcus Both enjoyed a bogey-free 66 highlighted by a superb chip-in eagle for third position.

Thai star Thongchai Jaidee's quest for a record third Order of Merit title stuttered with a 71 as he dropped to tied 16th place on 141. Thongchai, a two-time Asian Tour number one, must finish no lower than second place if he is to deny compatriot and current merit leader Thaworn Wiratchant from a career first crown. Thaworn didn't enjoy the best of days, needing two birdies over his last three holes for a 73 that included a triple bogey seven.

The 23-year-old Kapur, who has enjoyed a strong rookie season with five top-10s, continued to impress many with a composed performance in his chase for a first Asian Tour title. After an opening bogey, he came back gallantly with eight birdies but was disappointed to drop two shots, including a stroke at the last hole after finding the greenside trap.

"I am pretty happy. Any time you start off with a bogey you are on the backfoot and I came back pretty well. I probably did not hit as well today as I did yesterday but I managed to post a pretty good score," said Kapur, who lost in a play-off in the Double A International Open in Thailand last month.

It promises to be a thrilling third round pairing between one of the linchpins of Indian golf and a rising star, and Kapur feels he is up to the challenge in a career first head-to-head duel with Randhawa. "It will be nice. As far as stature or anything goes I am not one to pay much attention to that. I have played with Thongchai Jaidee in Thailand and it does not get any more difficult than that."

"I would rather be one or two ahead than one or two behind – I've always maintained that. A lot of guys like to be behind because it takes the heat off but if you are in the lead it gives you a little bit more margin for error and that is a good thing. I think I will draw on my past experiences and perhaps they will carry me through. I have been in the lead a few times and I have made a few mistakes and other times I have managed to pull off a victory (during his amateur days). I will, sort of, harness all of that and use it to my advantage to some extent."

Randhawa roared to life in his defence of the Volvo Masters of Asia and needed only 23 putts, including seven single putts on his inward nine. Like Kapur, he dropped a shot on the first but was flawless soon after with nine birdies where his longest putt was from 20 feet at the 17th.

"After the first bogey, I said to myself 'what are you doing, you have to put in a good number today.' That got me going and I knew what I had to do and I steadied from there," Randhawa.

"I am in a good position. Any time you are in the top five going into the last two rounds; any time you hit a good number and you are right where you want to be it is a good situation. My friends Arjun Atwal and Daniel Chopra tell me he (Shiv) is a great golfer and I'm sure he is going to go further (in the game) than us," said Randhawa.

Aussie Both ended the day in third place with a 66 that included a sensational chip-in eagle on the fourth hole from thick rough. He nailed four more birdies and was pleased to be bogey-free. "If Shiv doesn't keep going crazy out there, I might have a chance. I had a good start with a birdie on two and then eagled the fourth. I holed a sensational chip shot from out of really thick round. It was one of those shots that you couldn't reproduce in 50 shots and hole it again," said Both, the 2003 Sanya Open champion.

Last season's number one Thongchai left himself with an uphill task after ending the second round in joint 16th place, eight shots adrift. An eagle on four after he nailed an eight iron to 10 feet failed to ignite an expected title charge as he endured yet another frustrating day on the tricky greens.

"I struggled on the back nine and there is still a chance to be in the top of the pack. The chase for the Order of Merit is not over and all I need is a six or seven under round tomorrow," said Thongchai, who was also Asia 's top player in 2001.

Leading second round scores

133 - Shiv Kapur ( IND ) 66-67

134 - Jyoti Randhawa ( IND ) 70-64

135 - Marcus Both (AUS) 69-66

137 - Adam Fraser (AUS) 68-69, Andrew Buckle (AUS) 66-71

138 - Zhang Lian-wei (CHN) 72-66, Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 71-67

139 - Chapchai Nirat (THA) 71-68, Scott Strange (AUS) 70-69, Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 69-70, Prom Meesawat (THA) 67-72

140 - Simon Yates (SCO) 71-69, Jason Knutzon (USA) 70-70, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 69-71, Gary Simpson (AUS) 69-71

141 - Rick Gibson (CAN) 73-68, Gaurav Ghei ( IND ) 72-69, Edward Loar ( USA ) 71-70, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 70-71, Ted Oh (KOR) 68-73, Richard Moir (AUS) 69-72, Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 68-73

142 - Mo Joong-kyung (KOR) 74-68, Wang Ter-chang (TPE) 71-71, Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 70-72, Ron Won (USA) 70-72

143 - Danny Chia (MAS) 73-70, Mahal Pearce (NZL) 70-73

144 - Gary Rusnak (USA) 74-70, Richard Lee (NZL) 73-71, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 72-72, Angelo Que (PHI) 72-72, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 71-73, Kang Wook-soon (KOR) 71-73, Frankie Minoza (PHI) 70-74, Anthony Kang (USA) 68-76

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