Chowrasia, Kapur make the cut at Qatar Masters

Doha (Qatar): SSP Chowrasia and Shiv Kapur made the cut but Jeev Milkha Singh faltered in the second round at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, which has been reduced to 54 holes due to windy conditions on Saturday.

For the second time in two weeks, Chowrasia made a late surge to make the cut as he fired two birdies in last three holes to turn in one-under 71 in the second round and finish at even-par for 36 holes. Shiv Kapur, who got into the event as a sponsor`s invite, made the most of it by squeezing into the third and final round as he carded a two-under 70. He had two birdies on second and third and parred the rest of the way to finish at one-over. However, Jeev missed his second cut in a row, as he brought in 71 after a first round 75 and finished at two-over 146 to exit early. Chowrasia, who had chipped in for a birdie on his 36th hole to make the cut last week at Abu Dhabi, was in danger of missing the cut at two-over when he came to the 16th tee. He birdied that and then the 18th to move to even par. Meanwhile, Scotland`s Paul Lawrie confirmed his liking of difficult conditions as he moved into the lead. After blustering winds reduced the tournament to 54 holes on Friday the second round was completed today, with former Open Champion Lawrie`s 67 taking him to eight-under par. Lawrie is looking to bridge a 13-year gap as he goes into the final round of the Commercial bank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy with a one stroke lead. Lawrie was the second winner of the title in 1999 – and followed it by becoming Open Champion at Carnoustie that July. Nicolas Colsaerts (68) was second at seven-under. Ricardo Gonzalez shot 67 and was tied third with Peter Hanson (69), who last week collapsed with a 78 in final after playing in the lead group with Tiger Woods and eventual winner Robert Rock in Abu Dhabi. PTI