Jeev Milkha Singh overcomes bogeys to make cut at the British Masters

Hertfordshire: Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh overcame two disappointing bogeys on the back nine to make the halfway cut at the British Masters presented by Sky Sports here on Friday.

Jeev, who is playing this week on an invite, shot an even par 71 to go alongside his first round 69 to total two-under 140 for 36 holes. He was Tied-38th but there were many players still out on the course.

One of the highlights of he day was Lee Soomin of Korea, who shot an ace on the par-3 13th Hero Charity Hole to land himself a special prize of ? 20,000, half of which will go to the Charity, The Golf Foundation.

"It was great to see that ball go in (for the hole-in-one). It was my first hole-in-one in a tournament and apart from the prize that I got from Hero, it was great to see all the smiles on the faces of the children from the Golf Foundation, who get half of the ? 20,000," said Lee, who turned 23 two days ago.

He hit a 6-Iron which landed beautifully on the green and found its way to the bottom of the cup at the 175-yard par-3, 13th hole. It was his fourth hole, having started on the tenth. Present at the presentation ceremony were children from the Golf Foundation.

Winner of the Shenzhen International and second at Maybank Malaysian Championship, Lee, however missed the cut with rounds of 78 and 69.

Alex Noren, finalist at the Hero Challenge on Tuesday, who kept finding the green with great regularity, continued his great form, by taking a share of the lead.

He added a six-under 65 to his first round 67 to get to 10-under and share the lead with local man and crowd favourite, Andrew 'Beefy' Johnston (67-65). Scott Jamieson (68-65) and Tommy Fleetwood (66-67) were tied third.

Alex Levy (70-66), who beat Noren in the Hero Challenge on the eve of the tournament, found his rhythm in the second round for a five-under 66 that put him into contention in Tied-ninth, but four shots behind the leaders.

The lone Indian in the field, Jeev had a bogey on fourth, which he made up for with a birdie on sixth, only to give away another shot on eighth. On the back nine, he had three birdies, on 11th, 15th and 18th but also ceded bogeys on 12th and 14th, both times from good positions as he hooked his second shot.

"I was going fine except for the second shots on 12th and 14th, but also my back was troubling a bit," said Jeev. "That back niggle started in Korea at the Pro-Am but after this week I am taking three weeks off after this and should be fine."

Tournament host, Luke Donald, missed the cut with rounds of 77 and 70.