Queen's Cup Golf: SSP Chawrasia, Chiragh Kumar joint 13th after Round 2

SSP Chawrasia

Koh Samui (Thailand), June 19 (IANS)

Seasoned Indian golfer S.S.P. Chawrasia carded four-under 71 to join compatriot Chiragh Kumar at the 13th spot after the rain-marred second round of the $300,000 Queen's Cup at the par-71 Santiburi Samui Country Club here on Friday.

Chawrasia, who on Thursday scored two-over 73 to be at tied 42nd, bounced back with seven birdies on the first, seventh, eighth, 10th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes against bogeys on the third, ninth and 11th.

The 37-year-old, two-time winner on the European Tour, took his halfway total to two-under 140 that is at par with Chiragh, who came up with a round of 72. Chiragh was joint third after the first round with a score of 68.

However, Thai star Prayad Marksaeng showed his class when he signed for a superb six-under 65 to seize the second round lead by two shots over second placed Canadian Richard T. Lee, who signed for a 67.

The eight-time winner on the Asian Tour returned with a blemish-free round highlighted by six birdies to lead with a two-day total of eight-under 134.

Overnight leader Atthaphon Sriboonkaew of Thailand (71) shared third place on 137 with defending champion and countryman Thaworn Wiratchant (68), as well as Akinori Tani of Japan, who is two-under with two more holes to play.

Other Indians in the fray, Bengaluru-based Khalin Joshi, who was joint 22nd on Thursday, scored 70 to share the 18th spot with five others, while Rashid Khan moved to tied 33rd place after the rain-marred second round. S. Chikka and Digvijay Singh took the joint 88th position with identical total of six-over 148.

Himmat Rai and Rahil Gangjee were two of the 31 players who will return to the course at 6.40am on Saturday morning to resume their second rounds. Play was suspended at 3.45pm local time due to heavy rain before resuming two hours later. It was then abandoned for the day at 6.40pm due to fading light.

But the day belonged to Prayad. After ending his first round with three birdies, Prayad, who won the Queen's Cup in 2013, picked up from where he left off by firing two straight opening birdies from the 10th hole and picked up four more birdies on 14th, 16th, fifth and sixth holes.