Gangjee and Kapur make cut in Taiwan, Bhullar, Lahiri miss out

Tamsui: With conditions continuing to be tough on the second day, only two Indians Rahil Gangjee (73-74) and Shiv Kapur (73-76) made the cut for weekend at the US$600,000 Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

Gangjee, who came in through the Qualifying School at the start of the season, is now three-over 147 and in tied 17th place, while Kapur at five-over 149 is tied 39th. With the starting field of 132, only the top-50 and ties made the cut with 51 going through for weekend action. Sam Cyr of the United States returned with a three-under-par 69 to snatch the second round lead from Australia`s Scott Hend today. Gangjee seemed to be going great guns as he was two-under through 11 holes with three birdies and just one bogey. But four bogeys in a row from 12th to 15th set him back and he ended with a card of two-over 74. Kapur, starting on the tenth, struggled through the stretch with one birdie, two bogeys and a treble on 18th. But he parred the remaining nine, the front stretch of the course and carded 76. Gaganjeet Bhullar (74-76), Himmat Rai (76-74), Anirban Lahiri (79-72), Ajeetesh Sandhu (76-78), Sujjan Singh (82-72) and C Muniyappa (81-79) missed the cut. Cyr, who finished tied-ninth in last year?s edition, was clearly determined to do better as he compiled a two-day total of five-under-par 139 to take a two-shot advantage over Hend, who had earlier grabbed the clubhouse lead with his 72 at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club. Thailand`s Panuphol Pittayarat regained his all-important confidence when he signed for a 70 to take third place while Korea’s Baek Seuk-hyun and Bangladesh`s Siddikur posted matching 143s to share fourth place at the richest Asian Tour event to be staged in Chinese Taipei this year. PTI