Danny stays in the hunt in India

NEW DELHI: Malaysia’s Danny Chia and Eddie Pepperell of England joined title holder S.S.P. Chawrasia at the top of the halfway leaderboard when round two of the Hero Indian Open concluded yesterday.

Danny, a two-time Asian Tour winner, birdied his last hole at DLF Golf and Country Club’s Gary Player course for a threeunder-69 while Pepperell shot a 70 as the duo matched Chawrasia’s five-under 139 total which the local hero set on Friday afternoon.

Two weather disruptions on Thursday and Friday meant that round two was completed only yesterday, with 69 players progressing into the final two rounds with a cut of 150 at the US$1.75 million (RM7.8 million) tournament tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and Indian Golf Union.

Danny was delighted to be in the hunt for a third Asian Tour victory, crediting his solid wedge play and driving for his good run of form at the challenging DLF course which only 11 players are under par through 36 holes of gruelling golf.

“I feel very tired. There’s a lot of waiting on the golf course. Mentally and physically, it’s a bit exhausting,” said Danny.

“My wedge play has been good this week. A lot of times, the par fives, I didn’t go for the greens. I just lay up and play my wedge shot which paid off today.

“On 18 I hit a good drive and had 200m to the green.

“Normally it’s a no brainer and I’ll just go for the green. But I laid up with an eight iron and then hit a wedge close to make birdie.

“You have to be so patient here. It’s the kind of course where you walk away with a par, I’m okay.”