Defending champion SSP Chawrasia was the man to catch again as he set the clubhouse target on a weather-delayed second day of the Hero Indian Open.
The home favourite has a remarkable record at his national Open that has seen him add four runners-up finishes to last year’s victory, with all three of his European Tour wins having come in India.
While Chawrasia leads, South African Dylan Frittelli carded a level par 72 to sit in a share of 13th place. Frittelli is the best placed South African after the young South African opened his round with three birdies and no bogeys on his front nine, before a back nine 39 which included four dropped shots in three holes, before a birdie on 15 saw him pegged back.
George Coetzee, JBE Kruger and Shaun Norris have yet to complete their rounds, but all are over par and have work to do.
The new course has proved a mighty test for the field, but Chawrasia carded a bogey-free 67 in his second round to get to five under, a shot clear of playing partner David Horsey.
‘First day I was level par, as I was a little bit scared as it’s a new course and it’s very tricky,’ said the clubhouse leader.’Overall I played good today.
‘I feel really good, and made a few putts. That’s why I shot five under. Yesterday I played good, but missed a few putts. I did miss a few but I made a few too, so they equal out.
‘Last year I won, so I have lots of positivity. And now I’m leading, so obviously I’m confident and I’m trying to win this tournament again. Hopefully, I’ll play good the next two days.’
Chawrasia and Horsey may have completed their rounds, but with two hours and 31 minutes lost to the threat of lightning, 66 players will have to complete round two on Saturday morning, among them third-placed Matteo Manassero and Eddie Pepperell, who were three under.
Chawrasia was six shots behind Horsey at the start of the second round, but the 38-year-old delivered a putting masterclass.
He birdied the 11th, while Horsey made a gain on the 12th ,but gave the shot straight back on the next before the Indian drained a stunning 50-footer on the 14th.
Both men then birdied the 15th, with Horsey dropping a shot on the 18th after finding the hazard and taking a drop.
The Englishman put his approach on the fourth to four feet, but there was drama to come on the par three fifth when Horsey made a double-bogey after taking three off the tee, and Chawrasia holed another long putt for a birdie and a three-shot swing.
A four-putt from Horsey on the eighth dropped him to four under, and when Chawrasia made another long putt for birdie, he held the lead.
“I played quite nicely,” said Horsey. “A little bit disappointed with the finish, I left a few putts out there on the back nine. But still, I’m only one behind just now, that’s not a bad position going into the weekend.
“I need to keep playing like I have been and just putt a bit better. It will be interesting to see how far behind I am come the end of round two.”
Italian Manassero bogeyed the second and fourth, but made a birdie on the sixth in his seven holes, while Englishman Pepperell will face 16 holes of his second round on Saturday after a bogey-birdie start from the tenth.
Credit: Europeantour.com
