Jeev lies sixth at the Canon Open in Japan

Yokohama (Japan): Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh stayed in contention for the title after carding a bogey-free two-under 70 in the second round to lie tied sixth at the Canon Open 2012 on the Japan Tour on Friday.

Jeev moved to six-under 138 after 36 holes. The Indian ace, who is playing his fourth successive start on Japan Tour where he has won four times, is four shots behind leader Yuta Ikeda (68) at 10-under 134. Though he had a tough day off the tees and with his irons, as he missed far too many fairways and greens in regulations, Jeev`s putter was red hot. He required just 23 putts for the entire round. There was not a single three-putt and he had one-putts on each of the nine holes on the back nine. "I putted like a dream, but my driving was off and I reached only a few greens in regulation," said Jeev, whose only two birdies of the day were on the 12th and 16th. Ikeda, who shot 66 on first day, added a 68 and had five birdies against one bogey on par-three fifth hole. There were as many four players, Shigeki Maruyama (69), Masamichi Uehara (68), Brad Kennedy (69) and Jung Gon-Hwang (69) at seven-under 137. Jeev along with Ryo Ishikawa (70), Japan Tour veteran Brendan Jones (67) and Hiroyuki Fujita (66) were at six-under 138. Jeev, Jones and Fujita were bogeyfree, but Ishikawa had three bogeys and five birdies in his 70. Jeev has played three events in Japan this year and his best has been tied 17th at the Tokai Classic. PTI