Jyoti Randhawa, Rahil Gangjee make cut at Russian Open

Moscow: Jyoti Randhawa and Rahil Gangjee were the only Indians remaining for the weekend rounds at the M2M Russian Open as the other three SSP Chawrasia, Khalin Joshi and Gaganjeet Bhullar missed the halfway cut.

Randhawa, who held a European card some seasons back, shot two-over 73 in the second round with one eagle, one double and two bogeys to total one-under 141 and be tied 50th, the same as Gangjee who also shot 73 with three birdies, three bogeys and one double.

Chawrasia, who is in line to make his European Tour card for 2016, however missed out on weekend action by one shot, the result of a late bogey par-4 14th. His second round of 71 after a first round 72 meant he was one-over 143 and the cut fell at even par 142.

Joshi (74-71) and Bhullar (80-70) also headed home early.

Meanwhile, Bradley Dredge moved into the driving seat in the hunt for a third European Tour title as the Welshman carded a second successive five under par 66 to move one shot clear at the midway point.

The 42-year-old's bogey free second round got off to the perfect start when he birdied the tenth, his first, before back to back birdies at the 12th and 13th meant he picked up three shots in his opening four holes.

He followed that up with further birdies at the 18th and the third to move to a ten under total, one shot clear of Englishman Lee Slattery ? who struggled with dehydration and faintness throughout his round but still managed a four under 67 for a nine under total.

Daniel Gaunt was a shot further behind on eight under par after the Australian registered a two under par 69, while Argentina?s Estanislao Goya, Spaniard Pablo Martin Benavides and Englishman Ben Evans were all tied for fourth place on seven under heading into the weekend.

Andrey Pavlov made history at Skolkovo Golf Club as he became the first Russian to make the cut at a European Tour event, a two under par 69 taking him to level par for the tournament to make it on the mark.