Shiv Kapur and Harold Varner III. Pic: Paul Lakatos/ Asian Tour
KAEC, Saudi, Feb 4: Shiv Kapur was disappointed not just about the final three holes, but the second nine itself as he ended with 2-over 72 on a windy second day when scoring was difficult at the US$ 5 million Saudi International. Kapur, who shot 65 on the first day, is now 3-under for 36 holes and slipped to T-18 from T-4 overnight. Yet, he stayed the top Indian after two days.
Four Indians of the seven who started made the cut. Apart from Kapur, they were Shubhankar Sharma (67-71), Rashid Khan (66-75) and Viraj Madappa 71-72).
American Harold Varner III moved past a heavy star cast to take the clubhouse lead mid-way through round two. He shot four-under-par 66 to reach 10 under. He leads by two from Australian Cameron Smith and Matt Wolff from the United States, after they returned 66 and 67 respectively, in the season-opening event on the 2022-23 Asian Tour.
Shubhankar Sharma added 71 to his first round 67 and slipped to T-21 while Rashid Khan, who after starting the day at 4-under rose to 6-under at one stage, but then crumbled to 5-over 75 and slipped to T-45.
Madappa squeezed inside the cutline despite two bogeys in the last four holes after starting from the tenth. AT 3-over 143 he was T-60 as the cut fell at 4-over.
Three other Indians S Chikkarangappa (72-73), Veer Ahlawat (71-74) and Khalin Joshi missed the cut.
Kapur, who a day earlier said he expected the conditions to be tougher on the second day found it just that. Despite that he held well for most part of the round. He was even par for the day with two birdies and two bogeys till he came to the 16th. He bogeyed 16 and 18 and instead of hanging inside T-10, he fell to T-17.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood after carding a 67 on another windy day was fifth at a total of 7-under. Three others including two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson were Tied-6th at 6-under.
Harold Varner III, who began on the back nine, started poorly and was one over for his round after seven holes but then birdied four out of his next five holes.
Smith, a four-time winner on the PGA Tour, including the Sentry Tournament of Champions, made his move on a day with blustery conditions. “I like it windy,” said the Australian, who played on the Asian Tour in 2014.
At the start of the day American Bryson DeChambeau withdrew from the event with a left hand and left hip injury.
(Updated at Feb 4, 10.45pm IST)
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Kapur’s strong finish sees him T-4th in Saudi Intl; Manassero leads
Madappa, Joshi and Chikka take Indian tally at $ 5m Saudi International to seven
