Bhullar three behind leader Daniel Chopra at Singapore Open golf
By IANSFriday, October 30, 2009
SENTOSA - Young Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar showed maturity to be at tied seventh with a two-day total of four-under 138 following rounds of 71 and 67 in the Barclays Singapore Open here Friday.
Leading the pack was Indo-Swede Daniel Chopra (65). He was in clubhouse lead after a sensational six-under 65 to go seven-under for 36 holes, 27 of which he played Friday. Then there is Liang Wen-chong the 2008 Indian Open winner at five-under after rounds of 69 and 68 sharing the fourth spot with Andrew Dodt (69-68).
Only 61 players have finished their second round and the rest will come back in the morning before the cut is applied after 36 holes.
Bhullar played 26 holes Friday before compiling an even par for first round and a four-under 67 for second to be four-under 138 for two days. He was tied seventh and three behind Chopra.
Of the golfers, who have finished both their rounds, only Chopra (70-65) at seven-under, Andrew Dodt (69-68) and Liang Wen-chong (69-68) are ahead of Bhullar.
Chan Yih-shin, a Monday qualifier, was three-under through seven holes to join Chopra at seven-under, while first round leader, Ian Poulter, birdied his first two holes and parred the third to move to seven-under as well.
It was a long day for Bhullar, who came back this morning to complete the first round. He was two-over through 10. But over the last eight holes, he hauled himself very well to finish even par. A birdie on 11th and a bogey on 13th saw him still at two-over. But two excellent birdies on the 16th and 18th put him in an excellent mood for the second round, which began in afternoon after Friday’s stoppage for rain and lightning.
“Those last two birdies (on the 16th and 18th holes of his first round) put me in a good frame of mind in the morning,” said Bhullar. “In second round I had just one bogey, that on the fourth. It was one of the (only) two times that I missed the fairway today.”
“I drove the ball very well and hit the ball reaching the greens in regulation and made five birdies,” he added.
As for the game plan, Bhullar confessed: “Two more days to go and anything can happen. The goal is to keep focus.”
A couple of weeks ago, when Bhullar was paired with Chopra at the Hero Honda Indian Open. The young Indian had said that playing with the latter was an education in shot-making and handling oneself on the course. This weekend, Bhullar could well be playing with Chopra as they both move into contention for the biggest prize on the Asian Tour.
Chopra said: I was very impressed (then) by Bhullar. He hits the ball well and his swing, which has a solid contact just like John Rollins on the PGA Tour. Once he learns how to control the three-fourth wedges and pitches, he will be very good.
On his own game, Chopra said: “Of all the years since I went over to PGA this is the one where I have underachieved most. But here things have been better, though on both days I left a few putts out there.”
“It is all a question of getting some breaks and then things suddenly work. I just need to stay calm and see that I find the fairways,” he added.
Of the other Indians Shiv Kapur is hanging in at two-over for two days, while Chinnaswamy Muniyappa was most likely out at seven-over and Gaurav Ghei at four-over with one hole to play was also certainly out.
Jyoti Randhawa birdied the second of the three holes he played in the second round to go to three-under - he had a 69 in first round - while brother-in-law Digvijay Singh bogeyed the only hole he played and dropped to two-over after 19 holes. SSP Chowrasia starting a five-over made one shot with a birdie on his first hole, the tenth and then parred the next to be four-over after 20 holes.
