By Rahul Banerji
Two-time Hero Indian Open winner Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia eased into the top five after day two of the Austrian Golf Open at Atzenbrugg near Vienna on Friday with a sparkling second round.
The 42-year old was joined in the weekend rounds by fellow-Indians Shubhankar Sharma and Ajeetesh Sandhu, who both made smart recoveries when it mattered most.
At four-under par 140 (72-68) Chawrasiia was three shots behind leader Alejandro Canizares of Spain along with four others.
Two-time Major winner Martin Kaymer of Germany and John Catlin of the US shared second place on 6-under 138s.
The stocky Chawrasia, still looking for his first overseas European Tour win, had just one blemish on Friday, dropping a shot on the par-4 ninth.
Five birdies was his count for the day
‘Do my best’
“Tomorrow and day after, I’m just looking to do my best,” Chawrasia told the EuropeanTour, the video clip posted by the one and only Swinging Swamy of Indian golf.
“It was a bit less cold today and the ball went longer which helped me,” Chawrasia said. “Today I started from the first tee and the early birdie on the par-5 first hole helped. Also I made some good putts.
“It was about three degrees yesterday, and was a bit warmer today which suited me.”
The Kolkatan in fact converted three of the four par-5s into birdies on day two, three better than he had managed in his level-par 72 round on Thursday and said he would be trying his best over the weekend to add to his four Tour titles, all of which have come at home.
Three over after the first day, Sharma (75-68) also brough in a 4-under card for Friday to move into a share of twentierth place.
While his day one card was marked by five dropped shots against two birdies, Friday saw a solid improvement in a blemish-free first nine that also provided three birdies.
Lone blip
Sharma’s only error came on the par-5 15th, which he had birdied on the first day. Overall, though, Sharma would be pleased at the way his gme came together to progress into the money rounds.
Sandhu, a late entrant, made the cut on the line at 3-over 147 with rounds of 77 and 70.
Europeantour.com adds: Canizares entered day two at the Diamond Country Club with a one shot lead and while he dropped three shots in his opening two holes, he recovered to post a 70 and maintain a narrow advantage.
South African Justin Walters was at five under, a shot ahead of Chawrasia, German Maximilian Kieffer, another South African in Jacques Kruyswijk and England’s Richard Mansell.
Both Cañizares and Kaymer are looking to end a seven year winless run, with Kaymer’s last victory being at the US Open in 2014.
Cold conditions were once again the order of the day in Atzenbrugg and Cañizares was happy with how he handled himself in testing temperatures.
“I struggled at the beginning, then hit some great shots.
“I think the turning point was at the par three 15th hole where I made a long putt for birdie and that triggered it a little bit,” he said.
“Overall it was a great round.”
Also read: Eye on Tokyo, Shubhankar Sharma makes cold start in Austria
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