In-form Veer Ahlawat moves to fifth, Bhullar 11th in Korea

Bio Kim, Taehoon Ok and Veer Ahlawat Pics: Paul Lakatos/ Asian Tour

Jeju, Korea, August 19: Veer Ahlawat continued his fine run as he shot a round which was full of birdies and moved into the Top-10 at the half-way stage of the US$1.5million International Series Korea. Ahlawat, who was T-12 last week in Singapore added 5-under 66 with eight birdies against three bogeys, to his first round 70. He is 6-under and Tied-fifth and four shots behind co-leaders Koreans Bio Kim (63) and Taehoon Ok (64).

Also getting into his stride was Gaganjeet Bhullar, winner of Mandiri Indonesia Open three weeks ago.

Bhullar closed the round in style with an approach from 179 yards disappearing into the cup for an eagle from on the Par-4 ninth, his closing hole of the day. He compiled 6-under 65 and made up for his first round 1-over 72. At 5-under he is T-12 and the second best Indian after Ahlawat. Bhullar, starting out on the 10th, was bogey-free with an eagle and four birdies in his 65.

SSP Chawrasia followed up his first round 68 with a 70 and at 4-under he is T-16 as only two other Indians Rashid Khan (70-71) and Shiv Kapur (68-74) made the cut. The cut fell at even par.

Chawrasia, teeing off from the  10th, had a rough start with three bogeys in his first eight holes. The birdie on 18th, his ninth, turned the tide. He also birdied the second and then had three birdies in a row from fourth to sixth. A dropped shot on ninth left a sour taste but he finished with 70.

A total of five Indians, of the 11 who started the week, made the cut. The  Indians who missed the cut included Ajeetesh Sandhu (72-73), Rahil Gangjee (73-73), Viraj Madappa (70-78), Honey Baisoya (71-77), S Chikkarangappa (72-79) and Jyoti Randhawa (70-79).

Bhullar, whose win in Indonesia took his tally of Asian Tour titles to 10, finished off his round with a stunning eagle on the par-four nine, having started on the back nine. “It was a nice round, four birdies and a lovely eagle on the last,” said Bhullar.

“I started off really well actually, yesterday I shot plus one, but I hit the ball really well. I knew that I’ve been hitting the ball well, it’s just a matter of time when the putts started falling.

“Today I started with a birdie and also made birdie on 13 and 18. And the way I finished the last hole, I hit a driver and had about 179 yards with slight downwind and I hit an eight iron and it went in the hole.  We saw it but I was not too sure whether it was in the hole or on the other side of the slope. But yeah, that was definitely one of the best swings.”

Bio Kim and Ok moved to 10-under for the Asian Tour event, which is being played at Lotte Skyhill Country Club – on Jeju Island, Korea’s popular holiday destination.

Hanbyeol Kim from Korea fired a 66 and is two shots back, while his compatriot Yoseop Seo returned the same score and is one stroke further adrift.

Korean Taeho Kim (66), Ahlawat (66) American Trevor Simsby (69), South Africans Justin Harding (70) and Ian Snyman (70), and first-round leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert from Thailand (73) are six under for the tournament.

Pavit stole the show on day one with a 63 and although he was 10 shots worse today he was still happy with his round.

Read also:

Kapur and Chawrasia best among Indians at T-12 in Korea

 

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