Thailand, June 16: Indian golfers SSP Chawrasia and Rashid Khan grabbed a share of the third spot after turning in steady second-round cards at the Queen’s Cup here today.
Chawrasia, who signed for a bogey-free 68, actually birdied the par-4 ninth hole, but signed for a four.
Yet he was seven-under 135 and shared third place with Rashid, home hero Prayad Marksaeng and Filipino Angelo Que, all of whom shot 70 each, Juvic Pagunsan (69) and Thai Pasavee Lertivilai (66).
Thailand’s veteran star Thaworn Wiratchant hit a glorious back nine 28 en route to an eight-under-par 63 to snatch the halfway lead. The 50-year-old Thaworn, was one shot ahead of Nicholas Fung of Malaysia who shot 68-68.
The straight-hitting Chawrasia, winner of the second Hero Indian Open in March this year, was in great nick as he produced an eagle and one birdie at Santiburi Samui Country Club.
A top-two finish in the USD 500,000 tournament here can push Chawrasia, a six-time Asian Tour winner, into top spot on the Merit list, which he has said is one of his goals for the year.
Meanwhile, Rashid Khan, who has gone back to his ‘baseball’ grip, landed an eagle on 12 with a hole-out from 138 yards with a nine iron. It kept him in the hunt for a third Asian Tour victory despite a cold putter, which he meant he 30 putts. (PTI)
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