Anirban, Jeev make cut at Wentworth; Kapur, Chawrasia miss out

Wentworth (UK), May 23

Indian golfers Anirban Lahiri and Jeev Milkha came through a testing second round to make the halfway cut at tied 52nd in the BMW PGA Championship here.

Both Indians added a second identical even-par 72 to complete their first 36 holes in 144 and were tied at 52nd. It was a drop of 14 places for both, but they now have the weekend to make up.

The other two Indians, Shiv Kapur (70-77) and SSP Chawrasia (73-75) exited early as the cut fell at one-over, while they were three-over and four-over respectively.

Meanwhile, at Lahiri playing in Europe after a two-month stint in US, admitted, "Yes quite a topsy-turvy round. I had a bad start (bogeys on first two hole) and some poor putting had me in trouble. But it was nice to make a few birdies towards the end though."

He, however, added, "Yet, it was disappointing to finish with a bogey thanks to a bad break off the tee. I (still) have a good opportunity to make up some ground over the weekend."      On the issue of top stars also struggling on the putting surface, he said, "They are bumpy and slow. Everyone struggling, but hopefully after two rounds I will be able to adjust better."

Lahiri began with successive bogeys but a birdie on the fourth helped him stabilise. Another bogey on the ninth meant he turned in even par.

Birdies on 13th and 14th, followed by two more on the 16th and 17th gave him a better placing. But he also dropped a shot on 15th and again on 18th.

Jeev, who had two birdies in the first four holes -- also had a bogey on third -- had a bumpy mid-round ride with four birdies, three bogeys and a double between sixth and 14th during which he parred only once.

Kapur had two doubles and four bogeys against three bogeys on a rough day, while Chawrasia bogeyed three times between 13th and 17th and ended his campaign.

Francesco Molinari birdied the final two holes for the second day running to maintain his position at the top of the leaderboard.

With a three-under 69, he was 10-under 134 for two days.

He was ahead of Korea's Byeong Hun An, whose 64 late in the day reduced the Italian's lead to one shot. An shot 71 on first day.

The best Asian was Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand (70-66) at eight-under 136. PTI