Arjun Singh and Jyoti Randhawa played solid golf even as the field struggled through the high roughs at the Serapong Golf Course on the second day of the US $two million Singapore Open on the Asian Golf Tour.
Arjun continued to be best among the dozen Indians in the field and moved in sight of a top-10 finish with his one-under 70 that placed him tied ninth. He was one of the 13 golfers under par for two rounds.
Besides Arjun and Randhawa, there were five other Indians who made the cut, including Harmeet Kahlon and Ashok Kumar.
Those who missed the cut were Jeev Milkha Singh, Gaurav Ghei, Firoz Ali and Amandeep Johl.
Randhawa seemed all set to zoom up the leader board, as he went three-under in four holes and stayed there at the turn. Another birdie on 12th brought him to four-under and under par for the first time in the tournament. Then came two bogeys on the 13th and 15th and he dropped to one-over and tied 18th by the end of the day.
Ironically, Shiv Kapur was one of the best Indians on view in the second day, but his par round of 71, was just not enough after his first day 81. Only Arjun (70) and Randhawa (69) broke par among the Indians, and Digvijay had 72.
Seven of the 12 Indians made the cut at six-over 148. Others making it to the weekend rounds were Digvijay Singh, Rahil Gangjee, Uttam Singh Mundy, Ashok Kumar and Harmeet Kahlon, the last four right on the bubble.
With the rough on the course continuing to dominate the golfers, Arjun joked, "It is a wonder some of the golfers did not get lost."
Aussie Andrew Buckle was the star with a 65 that included seven birdies and one bogey with a front nine 33 and backstretch of 32. He shared the lead at six-under 136 with American Edward Michaels, who shot a four-under 67.
Kiwi Mahal Pearce was sole third at 140, while World No. 7 Adam Scott was tied for fourth with Ted Oh, Anthony Kang and Nick O'Hern, who sank three birdies in his last four holes, while playing in the same group as Randhawa.
Arjun, who has had only six starts this year coming into this event, said he was satisfied with his outing.
"I am playing quite solid. I am quite happy with my game."
But it was the closing holes that did him once again. In the first round, he started the day on tenth and ended with two bogeys, and on second day, it was bogey-par finish with the par coming missing a birdie putt from six feet.
"I three-putted on the 17th and then missed a birdie putt on the 18th," added Arjun. "Here you have to find the fairways because once in the rough you have to hack your way out. Being smart does not help because you could end up with a big number. Patience is the key."
Randhawa looked satisfied with his two-under 69 for the day. "It was tough out there. I am happy as I found my feel, and had nine single putts," said Randhawa, who for the second day running went into the water on the 15th and dropped a shot.
"I dropped one each on 13th and 15th, but I putted well to save some good pars."
The hard luck story was that of Gaurav Ghei, who was four-over for the championships with three holes to go. Then he found disaster with a double bogey - bogey - double bogey finish to crash out with a nine-over total.
Jeev Milkha Singh, who missed the cut by one stroke, admitted, "I just couldn't putt today. I missed two putts inside two and a half feet."
Leading scores:
136 - Andrew Buckle (71, 65), Edward Michaels (69, 67)
138 - Mahal Pearce (68, 70)
139 - Anthony Kang (67, 72), Adam Scott (70, 69), Ted Oh (69,70), Nick O'Hern (71, 68)
140 - Thongchai Jaidee (67, 73)
141 - Arjun Singh (71, 70), Lin Wen Tang (73, 68), Terry Pilkadaris (71, 70), Marcus Both (69, 72), Chapchai Nirat (67, 74)
142 - Sung Mao Chang (72, 70), Lee Westwood (71, 71), Scott Strange (73, 69), Chawlit Plaphol (71, 71)
Top Indian scores:
141 - Arjun Singh (71, 70) - tied 9th
143 - Jyoti Randhawa (74, 69) - tied 18th
147 - Digvijay Singh (75, 72) - tied 43rd
148 - Uttam Singh Mundy (75, 73), Harmeet Kahlon (75, 73),
Rahil Gangjee (74, 74), Ashok Kumar 72, 76) - tied 59th
Missed cut:
149 - Jeev Milkha Singh (74, 75)
151 - Gaurav Ghei (77, 74)
152 - Amandeep Johl (75, 77), Shiv Kapur (81, 71)
156 - Firoze Ali (80, 76).
