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| January 21, 2006 | Saturday | Zilhaj 20, 1426 |
Mouland, Rodgers share lead as Imdad falters
KARACHI, Jan 20: Mark Mouland of Wales survived another eventful day to be tied at the top slot with England’s Chris Rodgers with eleven under par 133 at the end of second round in the US$200,000 Asian Tour Pakistan Open at the Karachi Golf Club on Friday.
The day saw Mouland’s five first round co-leaders Indian trio of Ashok Kumar, Jeev Milkha Singh and Amandeep Johl, Pat Giles and Imdad Hussain failing to maintain the pace they had shown on the opening day and slumping on the leader board.
By playing a second round of 64, Rodgers also eclipsed the KGC course record held by two golfers, including a Pakistani.
Scott Laycock of Australia was the first to enter his name in the annals of the course by playing a round of 65 in Pakistan Masters in 1997. It was equalled by Pakistan’s Shabbir Iqbal in the 36th Pakistan Open in 2003 at the same venue.
Rodgers, a stroke behind the leading scorers in the first round, had luck on his side particularly on two holes in the second round. On hole-5, he putt from 10 feet while on hole-10 the ball bounced back into the centre of fairway after hitting a stone in water hazard.
He had a bogey-less second round with six birdies on hole- 2, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 16 and eagle on hole-4.
Two strokes behind the second day’s joint leaders, was Indian Amandeep Johl with nine under par 135.
Following him further two strokes behind were Pakistan’s Shabbir Iqbal and Indian Jeev Milkha Singh at seven under par 137.
In all, seven Pakistanis have made it to the top 30 at the completion of round two. Besides Shabbir, others were Muhammad Munir, Imdad Hussain, Matloob Ahmed, Taj Nabi, Afsar Ali and Shahid Javed Khan.
The home golfers have performed remarkably well so far with Shabbir, Munir and Imdad aiming to bring glory.
Australian Marcus Both, one of the best ranking golfers in the Asian circuit, has failed to find his touch even after completion of two rounds. He is trailing at 18th position with three under par 141.
After the end of second round, the number of players was curtailed to 72. The cut was to be made at 65 but the figure rose because of ties at some positions.
The third round tees off on Saturday at 7.40am.
Agencies add: “I was pumped up and I m thoroughly enjoying myself here as the conditions are good and the course is great,” said Rodgers.
“I had a very steady game today partly due to my caddie who has been spot on and I hope to maintain my momentum right through to the final day,” said Mouland, who spent 22 years on the European Tour and has previously captained the Welsh World Cup team and Welsh Dunhill Cup team.
Leading second round scorers:
133- Chris Rodgers (Eng) (69, 64), Mark Mouland (Wal) (68, 65)
135- Amandeep Johl (Ind) (68, 67)
137- Shabbir Iqbal (Pak) (70, 67), Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) (68, 69)
138- Muhammad Munir (Pak) (70, 68), Ashok Kumar (Ind) (68, 70), Arjun Singh
(Ind) (69, 69)
139- Jeremy Kavanagh (Eng) (70, 69), Iain Steel (Mas) (73, 66)
140- Imdad Hussain (Pak) (68, 72), Brad Kennedy (Aus) (73, 67), Digvijay
Singh (Ind) (71, 69), Unho Park (Aus) (71, 69), Pat Giles (Aus) (68,
72), Jochen Lupprian (Ger) (72, 68), Matloob Ahmed (Pak) (70, 70).
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