India’s Jyoti Randhawa rode the momentum of a solid front nine to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Singapore Masters.
SINGAPORE: India’s Jyoti Randhawa rode the momentum of a solid front nine to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Singapore Masters at the Laguna National Golf Club on Friday.
The 34-year-old from New Delhi shot a four-under 68 on the more demanding Masters Course to finish on 11-under-par at the halfway point, just ahead of Scotland’s Barry Hume, who overcame a late double-bogey to stand alone in second place.
Malaysia’s Ian Steel and Briton Gary Lockerbie are a shot further back in a tie for third place after rounds of 65 and 67 respectively, one stroke ahead of joint overnight leader Liang Wen-chong of China and Ireland’s Peter Lawrie.
The $1.1 million European and Asian Tour event is split over two layouts for the first two rounds with the final 36 holes played on the traditional venue, the Masters Course.
Randhawa began the day in a tie for third place after an opening seven-under 65 on the easier Classic Course on Thursday, and was soon making his move up the leaderboard with two birdies on the opening three holes.
Back-to-back birdies from the seventh hole were offset by a bogey on the ninth to leave Randhawa tied for the lead with Hume, who had completed his second round earlier in the day.
Randhawa kicked on after the turn and picked up two more shots to surge clear of the field before a bogey at the difficult par-three 17th, resulting from a pulled tee shot into the deep rough on the left of the green, cut his advantage to one stroke.
“It got really windy today and it was tough scoring out there, so I am delighted with my score,” Randhawa said.
Randhawa, a six-time winner on the Asian Tour, led halfway though the HSBC Champions Tournament in November before falling away in the company of Tiger Woods.
“It’s more of a mental battle,” he said of holding onto the lead. “It’s a learning experience and it is great to play with great names in golf like Tiger.”
Europe’s Ryder Cup stars all flopped. Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood and David Howell missed the cut.
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