NEW DELHI, Feb 8: Northern Ireland’s Damien McGrane stroked a majestic 69 to take a two-shot lead at the Indian Masters on Friday, as Ernie Els made amends for his disastrous opening round to scrape through the cut.

Another Irishman Graeme McDowell, who finished fifth behind Tiger Woods in Dubai on Sunday, shares second place with South Africa’s Hendrik Buhrmann and Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin at six under for the tournament on 138.

But on a cold and grey Delhi day first round leader Jyoti Randhawa lost the plot, firing a five-over-par 77 to be six behind McGrane.

Former Ryder Cup star Thomas Bjorn remains in the hunt at four under while US veteran Mark O’Meara is on the fringes of the leaderboard after a 73 left him six strokes adrift.

World number four Els, who was rattled by a nine on Thursday, looked to be heading for an early plane home after bogeying the first but he rallied with an eagle at the eighth and a birdie on the 14th.

And he fared much better on the par-5 18th that undid him in round one, sinking a birdie for a 70 to leave him nine behind McGrane.

McGrane, who is looking for his first European Tour victory, found the conditions harder than on the opening day.

“The temperature was really cold out there and it was a lot more difficult than Thursday,” said the unassuming 36-year-old.

The fast-improving McDowell, who won the Scandinavian Masters in 2002 and the Italia Open in 2004, said patience was the key at the Lodhi course, with thick bushes awaiting anyone who strays off the fairways.

With Randhawa slumping, the best-placed Indians going into the final two days are Arjun Atwal and Digvijay Singh at four under par. Another local hero Shiv Kapur, who was second after the first round, crashed to a 78 for a 146 total.

Randhawa, who has won five tournaments at Delhi Golf Club, said he is still in the hunt despite a disappointing day.

Big name casualties who missed the cut included England’s David Howell and India’s top player Jeev Milkha Singh, who equalled his first round 77 again Friday.

A host of Asian Tour regulars also failed to live up to expectations and miss the weekend, including Thai trio Thaworn Wiratchant, Chinnarat Phadungsil, and Chapchai Nirat.

Second round scores

136 — Damien McGrane (NIR) 67-69.

138 — Graeme McDowell (NIR) 69-69, Hendrik Buhrmann (RSA) 69-69, Raphael Jacquelin (FRA).

139 — Mikael Lundberg (SWE) 71-68.

140 — Jose Manuel Lara (ESP) 68-72, Digvijay Singh (IND) 70-70, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 68-72, Benn Barham (ENG) 69-71, Maarten Lafeber (NED) 69-71, Arjun Atwal (IND) 70-70.

141 — SSP Chowrasia (IND) 70-71, Darren Clarke (NIR) 72-69, Henrik Nystrom (SWE) 70-71.

142 — Ross Bain (SCO) 71-71, Mark O’Meara (USA) 69-73, Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 65-77, Brendan Jones (AUS) 74-68, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 73-69, Simon Wakefield (ENG) 74-68.

143 — Martin Wiegle (AUT) 75-68, Jarno Sandelin (SWE) 73-30, Stephen Gallacher (SCO) 71-72, Phillip Archer (ENG) 74-69, Joakim Haeggman (SWE) 74-69, Jose-Filipe Lima (POR) 72-71, Emanuele Canonica (ITA) 72-71, Ross McGowan (ENG) 72-71, Keith Horne (RSA) 70-73, Unho Park (AUS) 71-72.

144 — David Lynn (ENG) 69-75, Gaurav Ghei (IND) 75-69, Peter Baker (ENG) 73-71, Amandeep Johl (IND) 73-71, Leif Westerberg (SWE) 73-71, Anthony Kang (USA) 72-72, Richard Finch (ENG) 67-77, Simon Yates (SCO) 70-74, Suk Jung-Yul (KOR) 70-74, Oliver Fisher (ENG) 73-71, Alvaro Quiros Garcia (ESP) 69-75, Carlos Rodiles (ESP) 74-70, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (FRA) 71-73.

Selected

145 — Prom Meesawat (THA) 71-74, Andrew Coltart (SCO) 76-69, Ernie Els (RSA) 75-70.

146 — Shiv Kapur (IND) 68-78.

148 — Mardan Mamat (SIN) 74-74.

152 — Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 76-76, David Howell (ENG) 74-78.

154 — Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 77-77.—AFP