Kapur shoots 68, but Bhullar best Indian in Beijing

Bhullar, who was in the top-10 at the end of the first day, shot even par 72 with four birdies against four bogeys and at four-under for 36 holes, he is T-22nd.

Gaganjeet Bhullar was in top-10 at the end of the first day. (File Photo)

Gaganjeet Bhullar stayed as the best Indian, despite a sharp fall in the second round, while Shiv Kapur shot the best round among his compatriots, with a bogey-free 68, at the Volvo China Open, here, on Friday.

Bhullar, who was in the top-10 at the end of the first day, shot even par 72 with four birdies against four bogeys and at four-under for 36 holes, he is T-22nd.

Kapur (68) made up for his first round 73 and at three-under, he is now T-35, alongside Shubhankar Sharma (69-72) and Arjun Atwal (69-72). Khalin Joshi (71-71) at T-50th was the fifth Indian to make the cut. Ajeetesh Sandhu (72-76), S.S.P. Chawrasia (75-75) and Jeev Milkha Singh (77-77) missed the cut, which fell at one-under 143.

READ: Rahil Gangjee makes cut in Japan

Meanwhile, Matt Wallace of England signed a battling two-under-par 70 to seize a one-shot lead at the halfway stage. The 28-year-old Wallace, who won the Hero Indian Open, in March, opened his campaign with a 65 and moved atop the leaderboard after closing with a brilliant birdie, thanks to his caddy’s advice to pace himself on the par-five 18th hole, at the Topwin Golf and Country Club.

Wallace traded one birdie against a bogey, before soaring with an eagle on the par-five eighth hole to turn in 34. He reeled in six straight pars before dropping a shot on 17, which he would eventually gain back on the last.

Kim, who enjoyed top-10 finishes in his last two starts on the Tour, continued his fine form to sign for a 66, grabbing a share of second place, with Australia’s Jason Scrivener and Nacho Elvira of Spain, in the $3.17 million event.

Soomin Lee of Korea reckoned the feel-good factor from his breakthrough win in the Middle Kingdom, two years ago, has stood in his favour, as he put himself in the title mix, after carding a 69. He sits two shots off the pace in fifth on 137, alongside three other players.

A total of 69 players made the halfway cut, set at one-under-par 143, at the 24th edition of the event, tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and the China Golf Association.

Overnight leader Daxing Jin of China slipped to tied-22nd position following a disappointing 76. He is amongst the six local players, including Haotong Li and Ashun Wu, to progress into the weekend rounds in the National Open. Wallace sits in a current second place on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings, which is led by Shubhankar Sharma of India.