Defending champion SSP Chawrasia recorded a brilliant 67 to set the clubhouse target of five under par before the Hero Indian Open was suspended for the second day in a row due to a threat of lighting.
Play was restarted at 5.15 pm following a two and a half hour suspension, but none of the afternoon groups were able to complete their rounds before darkness brought play to a close.
Chawrasia was six shots behind leader David Horsey when round one was completed at DLF Golf and Country Club earlier in the day, but five birdies in a flawless round propelled the local favourite to the top of the leader board.
England’s Horsey sits just one shot back at four under par after a round of 74 that included three birdies, as many bogies and a double-bogey, at the end of a day when none of the afternoon groups completed their rounds
Chawrasia is looking to continue a remarkable record at his national Open that has seen him add four runners-up finishes to last year’s victory, with all three of his European Tour wins having come in India. He was involved in a fascinating round two battle with playing partner Horsey, which culminated on their back nine at the par three fifth when Horsey made a double-bogey after taking three off the tee and Chawrasia holed a long putt for birdie and a three-shot swing.
A four-putt from Horsey on the eighth dropped him to four under and when Chawrasia made another long putt for birdie, he held the lead.
Italy’s Matteo Manassero and Englishman Eddie Pepperell are currently two off the lead at three under, while Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey birdied the eight and ninth to sign for a 71 and reach two under par just moments before play was suspended for the day. Hoey is joined by Carlos Pigem, who recorded a 73, plus Sam Walker, and Danny Chia, who have yet to complete round two.
Stephen Gallacher got off to a great start with a birdie on the 11th on the way to a bogie-free front nine, but the Scot dropped a shot just after the turn and finished with a double-bogey on the ninth to sign for a 73. He is joined for now at one under par bySteven Tiley, Angelo Que and Terry Pilkadris, who will be back out on the course when 66 players resume round two at 7 am on Saturday.
SSP Chawrasia:
“My hitting was really good and some putts dropped, that’s why I made five under. This course is very tricky and you’ve got to be straight all the time. The greens are tough. You need full concentration on every single shot.
“My putter was going good today. A great putt on five and on eight, they were tough putts. On five, it was from about 25 feet and on eight, it was around 20 feet.
“I’ve played many times in India and I’m used to many of the courses, except for this week. This course is totally new. Maybe it’s home and I have confidence. Last year I won, so I have lots of positivity. And now I’m leading so obviously I’m confident and I’m trying to win this tournament again. Hopefully I’ll play good the next two days.
“I won’t change anything. I’ll keep the same strategy. Hit it straight and putt well. Very simple.”
David Horsey:
“I played quite nicely. A little bit disappointed with the finish, I left a few putts out there on the back nine. But still, I’m only one behind just now, that’s not a bad position going into the weekend.
“Five is tough. It’s a long, island green. I hit it in the bunker and three-putted. Then I four-putted eight and missed a short one on nine, so I’ve wasted three or four shots there on the greens.
“I need to keep playing like I have been and just putt a bit better. It will be interesting to see how far behind I am come the end of round two. But, just more of the same really.”
Stephen Gallacher:
“It was going well until the last, I doubled the last there. The pins are tough, the greens are firm and the wind is switching, so it’s not easy at all.
“I played OK, you’ve just got to plot your way round. You’ve got to try to hit it pretty straight and leave it the right side of the flags. If you get the wrong side of the pins you can rack up some numbers. I pretty much did that all day and just hit a poor tee shot down nine, which sort of spoiled a good round.
“I’ve got a couple of rounds to go lower. A couple of sub-70s and you never know. I’m up there just now and I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and see where I am on Sunday.”
