Dubai: Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert and India’s Shiv Kapur share a one-stroke lead on seven under par for the tournament after round two of the Asian Tour’s season-ending Dubai Open at The Els Club on Friday.
Tangkamolprasert built on his opening round of 67, which saw him tied for second, with a two-under 70 in round two. Kapur, meanwhile, fired himself up from tied for 24th after an opening 71 with a second round of 66.
Tangkamolprasert had been eight under par until the 16th hole, which he double-bogeyed, but recovered with his fourth birdie of the day on the 18th.
“I’m very happy with my performance,” said Tangkamolprasert, who has earned his Asian Tour card for next year with three Asian Challenge Tour wins this season, but is yet to triumph in eight appearances on the senior tour.
“This is my last chance to win on the Asian Tour [this season]. I feel very confident now because the pressure is off as I already have my card for next year.
“I will try to keep playing well in the last two rounds, knowing that my putting is working. I will try to hit as many greens as I can and get the putts.”
Kapur started Friday’s round with an eagle before bogeying the third hole, only to make three birdies on his front nine and two on his return.
“I started off holing the second shot on the first hole so that’s a great way to start the day,” said Kapur, who has just one top-10 finish from seven Asian Tour performances this season.
“That pretty much eliminated the mistakes on my card. I’ve made one bogey in two rounds and haven’t made a ton of putts or birdies, but when you keep bogeys off the card, you are usually going to be there or thereabouts. I know I’ll be in a good position going into the weekend but there’s a lot of golf left.”
Fellow Indians Arjun Atwal and Gaganjeet Bhullar share tied for second a shot back on six under par with Scotland’s Simon Yates and Korea’s Wang Jeung-hun.
Bhullar shot a 69 on day two, while Atwal had a brilliant seven-under 65 — for the round of the day. Atwal had four outward birdies and three on his return on an unblemished card in a marked difference to his opening card of three bogeys and two birdies.
Yates, who carded a 67, would have been eight under for the tournament but he double-bogeyed the 17th.
Elsewhere, first round leader Kalem Richardson of Australia fell right back to one under for the tournament and tied for 37th after following up his first round 66 with a five-over 77.
The cut was made at one over par and 66 players progressed to the last two rounds.
