SSP Chawrasia shares lead, Rashid third

S.S.P. Chawrasia in action during Round Two of the Myanmar Open at the Royal Mingalardon Golf and Country Club in Yangon on Friday. (Photo: AFP )

S.S.P. Chawrasia stayed bogey free for the second day running to move into a share of the lead at the $750,000 Leopalace21 Myanmar Open on Friday.

He took Route 66 for the second day but this time under somewhat slightly windy conditions and logged six more birdies to follow the six from the first day.

Chawrasia, at 12-under, shares the lead with Australia’s Shaun Norris (66-66), who was also bogey free for the second day.

A few other Indians had good outings, as two-time Asian Tour winner Rashid Khan positioned himself one shot behind the leaders, while Arjun Atwal was tied eighth.

Rashid too had a bogey free 66 and was tied-third at 11-under alongside Australia’s Sam Brazel (66-67). Former PGA Tour winner Atwal (68-67) was happy to find rhythm in his game and moved to nine-under and tied eighth.

Himmat Rai gave away three bogeys on a course that yielded low scores, but still carded 69 to move to seven-under, where he was tied 19th alongside Rahil Gangjee (71-66), who was the third Indian to shoot a bogey free 66 on the second day. Shiv Kapur dropped two late shots to card 70 and was six-under at tied 30th.

Chawrasia, who feels he has found the right rhythm in his game since the last day in Singapore, where he shot 67, including a four-under bogey free second nine, opened on the back nine in the second round.