Torino (Italy): Indian golfer Shiv Kapur played out yet a steady second round of three-under 69 that kept him in touch with the leaders at the BMW Italian Open here.
Kapur, whose five-under 67 on first day put him in tied 10th place, is now tied 14th but is only four behind leader Richard Bland, who has played identical rounds of 66 on both the days.
Meanwhile, SSP Chowrasia was done in by a triple bogey as he carded a two-over 74 and crashed out early. Chowrasia had a first-round 71 and his one-over 145 was not enough to keep him for the weekend as the cut came at four-under.
Bland birdied the last three holes of his second round to snatch the halfway lead. The 39-year-old Englishman is yet to win on The European Tour despite 10 years of trying but now has a fantastic chance to break through at Royal Park I Roveri after a six-under 66 took him to 12-under overall.
Kapur parred the first five holes before dropping a shot on the sixth.
But thereafter he was very and birdied the seventh to get back to even for the day. Then birdies on 10th, 12th and 18th ensured a good day at 69 and a total of eight-under for 36 holes.
Kapur is currently 136th on the Race to Dubai Order of Merit and needs to get into top-115 to get his card for 2013 and needs to come into top-60 to qualify for the year-ending Dubai World Championships.
Chowrasia had five birdies but he also had four bogeys and one triple-bogey in his 74.
Bland is one stroke ahead of France`s Gregory Bourdy, Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, South Africa`s Garth Mulroy and Scot Marc Warren.
Bland is also in need of a good week to retain his place on the European Tour for 2013. He currently lies 126th on the Race to Dubai with only the top 115 keeping their cards.
Fernandez-Castano admitted the advice of Ryder Cup Captain Jose Mar?a Olazabal had helped his putting in a round of 65.
Bourdy`s eight birdie 64 was the best round of the day, while Mulroy and Warren carded 67 and 65 respectively.
Martin Kaymer is the best-placed of the three Ryder Cup players in the field after a 66 left him eight under, one ahead of Francesco Molinari and two clear of Nicolas Colsaerts.
Meanwhile, Olazabal made the cut on the mark at four under, as did defending champion Robert Rock.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, September 15, 2012, 13:59