Indian golfer SSP Chawrasia rode on his short game to produce a second successive five-under 67 to grab a share of the second place at the halfway stage of the Hero Indian Open at the tricky Delhi Golf Course (DGC), here on Friday.
A four-time runners-up, Chawrasia was a picture of consistency as he blasted as many as six birdies against a lone bogey to total 10-under 134, just three strokes away from the leader Terry Pilkadaris of Australia, who set the course ablaze with a eight-under 64.
Chawrasia gained strokes at the first, fifth and eighth holes with a lone bogey at the fourth to make the turn at two-under. But the Kolkata pro put his putting to good use in the back nine, blasting three more birdies at the 11th, 14th and 16th holes. He shared the second place with Spain's Nacho Elvira, who carded 68 today.
Two strokes behind were the duo of England's Ben Evans (66) and USA's David lipsky (67) at eight-under 136.
With three birdies and two bogeys, defending champion Anirban lahiri (68), who saw at least two of his birdie putts lip-out, brought home a card of one-under 71 today to lie tied 13th.
Rashid Khan and Shiv Kapur brought home improved cards of 68 and 67 respectively to jump to the tied sixth and tied 13th spots at 137 and 139 after the second round. PGTI golfers, Sanjay Kumar and Honey Baisoya, who were inside the top 10 yesterday, struggled to an even-par 72 to slip out of the top 10 at the halfway stage.
Among other Indians, Arjun Atwal (70,71) and Rahil Gangjee (69,72), Mukesh Kumar (73,68) and unheralded Arjun Prasad (71,70) were at tied 30th at three-under 141. Jeev Milkha Singh (72) carded 71 to lie further down.
Padraig Harrington (71,74) of Ireland missed the cut after he totaled one-over 145, while Marcus Fraser (74,70) of Australia squeezed in after the cutline.