Lightning strikes Indian fortunes at Malaysian Open

Kuala Lumpur, Feb 9 (UNI) Jeev Milkha Singh's second successive card of one-under 71 was the only highlight of an otherwise gloomy day for the Indians on which Shiv Kapur and Jyoti Randhawa looked certain to miss the halfway cut before lightning stopped play in the second round of the 1.3 million dollar Maybank Malaysian Open here.

Jeev's performance, which lifted him to the tied 12th spot, was the only bright spot on an otherwise horrific day for the Indians as they slumped down the leaderboard at the Saujana Golf and Country Club.

Overnight second, SSP Chowrasia was five-over at the 13th hole before the weather disrupted the proceedings. Playing his back-nine first, the Kolkata caddie-turned-pro, who was in sublime touch yesterday, failed to find form today and stumbled to a 10th hole bogey.

Chowrasia never recovered from the initial setback and went on to drop a double-bogey and a bogey on the next two holes before finally saving par on the 13th. But the Kolkatan dropped a shot on the very next hole to make the turn at four-over.

Coming back to play his first nine, Chowrasia's poor run continued as he bogeyed the fourth hole before play was stopped with the Kolkatan tied for the 31st position.

In contrast, Jeev kept things under control and with two birdies against a bogey, the seasoned pro entered the top-20 with a total of two-under 142. Amandeep Johl, who was tied 49th with a poor 73 yesterday, was also doing reasonably well at one-under at the 12th hole for a share of the 31st spot.

However, Kapur and Randhawa continued their horror run and after poor opening rounds of 76 and 77 respectively yesterday, the duo was well below the projected cut mark with Kapur at one-over and Randhawa at two-over after the 14th hole. Rahil Gangjee was also not doing too well and after an opening round 70, which took him to the tied 11th spot, the Indian slumping to five-over at the 10th hole.

At the top, Chinarat Phadungsil leaped to the top spot with a sensational five-under 67 and with a total of seven-under 137, the Thai was two shots ahead of his nearest rivals.

UNI