India slip to third place in Nomura Cup

Denarau (Fiji): The Indian Golf Union`s amateur team conceded the advantage to slip from second

position to third shot at end of the second round of the biennial Asia-Pacific Golf Championships for the Nomura Cup here. India dropped to 226 for a total of 434 to be in the third place. Australia, meanwhile, stayed on top with a second round total of 212, five worse than the first round, to lead at 419. They were 12 shots clear of South Korea, who jumped up the leaderboard with 213 points, and from a 10-shot deficit against India moved to a three-shot lead at 431. New Zealand 435 (211 + 224) were fourth and the Philippines 441 (213 + 228) stood fifth. The Indian quartet dropped to over par scores as Abhijit Chadha and Khalin Joshi turned in cards of three-over 75 each. Chadha was even par for two rounds and Joshi was one-over, just as Chikkarangappa with a 76 was. Angad Cheema collapsed with an 83 to be 10-over after two rounds. In terms of individual standings, Chadha was tied eighth, while Chikka and Joshi were tenth and Cheema 37th. As the scene shifted from Denarau Golf Club to Nadatola for the second round, the players struggled with the tough course conditions. The championship golf course has narrow fairways on a hilly track and its nearly waist-high elephant grass is very punishing when it comes to errant shots. Wayward drives into the rough often meant lost balls. In addition, the pin positions were also tough leading to high scores. Chadha playing a cautious round was even par going out but dropped three strokes on the back nine for his 75. Khalin, teeing off from tenth, was two-over after 9 holes despite a couple of bad breaks. He steadied himself but a three-putt on the seventh hole saw him finish at 75 and he was one over for 36 holes. The leader was Australia`s Cameron Smith at six-under after two rounds. Chikka, also a 10th tee starter, was in control till the three-putt on 14th from a mere five feet. Then on 16th, he missed the fairway and ended with a disastrous quadruple bogey that spoiled his round. He recovered mentally as he played the last 11 holes in one-under, but the damage had been done and he ended with a 76. PTI