Chowrasia best Indian despite closing triple, Rai makes cut

HUA HIN - Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia came here this week to complete his minimum nine starts on the Asian Tour this season, but with one hole to go in the second round of the Black Mountain Masters, he was not only the best Indian in the fray but looked good for a top-10.

Chowrasia and Himmat Rai, on the cutline survived for the weekend, while Anirban Lahiri and Shiv Kapur fell by the wayside as unseasonal weather saw rain and wind in the morning leading to preferred lies.

The overcast conditions forced a half hour delay to the start and then later a took a toll on the scores. But Chowrasia in the afternoon looked fine. He was one-under through 17 holes and then came the heart-breaker from the edge of the fairway on the ninth, his last hole. He duffed and went into water; took a drop and then three-putted for triple bogey seven.

“I cant believe it. I was on the edge of the fairway with a great lie, but I duffed it, said a disappointed Chowrasia. Never mind, theres two more rounds to go.

Lee Sung, born deaf, may well be hearing a lot of applause soon. Coming to his first event after an operation three weeks ago to give him the experience of hearing, he shot a stunning eight-under 64 with eight birdies, five on the back stretch, on his first nine. He had three more on second nine. At 14-under, he was two clear of Namchaok Tantipokakul, who had a similar 64, but with nine birdies and ne bogey.

After the operation, I can hear the balls impact and it helps when I am chipping. I can also hear the applause, said Lee Sung, who last year lost the Hero Honda Indian Open in a play-off to C.Muniyappa. He previously had his father as his caddie, but the same job is now done by his brother, Lee Sung-joo.

In the morning, Himmat Rai, fighting to get his card, managed to keep afloat after suffering horrible weather and his own nerves. The 23-year-old Rai, tied fourth overnight with a 66, had a terrible six-over 78, but at even par total he was on the cutline.

Lahiri stayed on in the clubhouse till the end waiting to see if he could make it. But stuck at tied 67th, he was one shot too far. Shiv Kapur, who was testing a new driver this week, shot a four-over 76 that began with a quadruple bogey this morning.

Also going out was Kunal Bhasin, Australian of Indian origin, who also plays Indian PGTI Tour. Bhasin shot 75 and 74 in his two rounds.

Lahiri starting in the afternoon, when the weather was better than morning, but still windy, waged a great battle to survive. A double bogey on 11th and a bogey on 14th threatened to send him back home early, but a birdie on 18th gave him hope. That became better when he added birdies on second and third to come to one-over, but that was just a wee bit off.

Behind Lee Sung, Thais held next three places. Tantiapokakul (12-under) was sole second, Piya Swanggarunpron (65) at 10-under for 36 holes was third and Kiradech Aphibarnat (66) at nine-under was fourth.

A whole bunch of Thais, Prayad Marksaeng (66) at nine-under, Thongchai Jaidee ((69) at eight-under, Chapchai Nirat (72) at seven-under and Thaworn Wiratchant (72), Chawlit Plaphol (68) and three others Thai were at five-under each and were threatening to turn the weekend into a home party.