Golfer Chowrasia roars back, five Indians miss cut in Malaysia

Indian golfer S.S.P Chowrasia sparkled with a five-under 67 to share the 29th position with compatriot Shiv Kapur, while Anirban Lahiri finished joint 21st after the second round of the Malaysian Open at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club here Friday.

Chowrasia made amends for his four-over 76 first round score with eight birdies Friday. He hit birdies on the third, fifth, eighth, ninth, 10th, 14th, 16th, 18th holes. However, he also carded 11th, 13th and 15th bogeys.

Lahiri took his total to two-under 142 following a par-72 in the second round. Shiv carded one-under 71 to accumulate a two-day total of 143, as Rashid Khan was lucky to stay in the $3 million competition. The halfway cut was set at two-over 146 and the young Indian golfer just managed it.

Other Indians in the fray, Jeev Milkha Singh (joint 756h), Rahil Gangjee and Jyoti Randhawa (joint 89th) and Gaganjeet Bhullar and Arjun Atwal (joint 122nd) missed the cut.

Meanwhile, title holder Lee Westwood stayed firmly in control as Alejandro Cañizares joined him atop the leaderboard.

The 41-year-old Englishman, bidding to become only the second player to win the event three times, posted 67 for a two-day score of 11-under 133 which was matched by Spaniard Cañizares. Canizares charged into contention with a brilliant 65.

Austrian Bernd Wiesberger carded a 66 to lie in third position at the championship sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Irishman Peter Lawrie, playing on a sponsor's invitation, shot a 66 to share third place with England's Paul Waring (68), while it was a day to forget for co-overnight leader Graeme McDowell, who signed for a 73 to slip six shots off the leading duo.

Thai star Prom Meesawat and former Asian Tour number one Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines emerged as the leading Asians in tied ninth position after rounds of 72 and 69 respectively for a 140 total.

Leaderboard:

133: Lee Westwood (ENG) 66-67, Alejandro Canizares (ESP) 68-65.

136: Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 70-66.

137: Paul Waring (ENG) 69-68, Peter Lawrie (IRL) 71-66.

138: Richard Bland (ENG) 68-70, Richard T. Lee (CAN) 69-69.

139: Graeme Mcdowell (NIR) 66-73.

140: Prom Meesawat (THA) 68-72, Alvaro Quiros (ESP) 70-70, Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 71-69, Andy Sullivan (ENG) 70-70, Gregory Bourdy (FRA) 70-70, Jake Higginbottom (AUS) 69-71, Robert Rock (ENG) 70-70.

141: Marcus Fraser (AUS) 72-69, Marc Waren (SCO) 70-71, Kang Sung-hoon (KOR) 67-74, Danny Chia (MAS) 67-74, Paul Peterson (USA) 72-69.

142: Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 73-69, Hennie Otto (RSA) 73-69, Andrew Dodt (AUS) 69-73, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 70-72, Gavin Green (amateur, MAS) 74-68, Nicholas Fung (MAS) 71-71, Morten Orum Madsen (DEN) 72-70, Wade Ormsby (AUS) 73-69.